From Subsistence to Synergy: Rebuilding Post-Conflict Economies through Agricultural Entrepreneurship in Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka

This research investigates the transformative potential of agricultural entrepreneurship as a strategic mechanism for sustainable poverty reduction in post-conflict Mullaitivu District of Sri Lanka. Despite national poverty reduction trends, Mullaitivu remains a high-poverty area characterized by a 44.5% headcount index, mainly due to the post-war obstacles to development, low agricultural productivity, and market fragmentation. Using a mixed-methods explanatory design, the study empirically analyzes how four key enabling factors, technological intervention, human capability (women and youth), financial accessibility, and government policy support, impact the transition from subsistence farming to market-oriented entrepreneurship. Quantitative data from 150 households were integrated with qualitative institutional insights. 
The study reveals that while agricultural entrepreneurship enhances income stability and household resilience, isolated interventions often fail. Statistical analysis yielded counter-intuitive results: technology adoption alone did not significantly correlate with poverty reduction, and excessive government aid was found to stifle individual innovation. Findings indicate that structural bottlenecks, such as geographical isolation and weak market integration, render individual factors ineffective unless addressed within a holistic, synergistic ecosystem. The study concludes that agricultural entrepreneurship is a structural necessity for long-term recovery in post-conflict zones. It recommends a shift from welfare-dependent policies toward an integrated framework prioritizing digital inclusion, rural credit reform, and the empowerment of marginalized groups to break persistent poverty traps.