Mohamed Esham is a Fulbright scholar and a Senior Professor in Agribusiness Management at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. He obtained a PhD in Agribusiness Management at UGSAS Tottori University, Japan, in 2006. He has done post-doctoral research at Tottori University, University of Reading, United Kingdom, University of Technology Sydney and the University of Vermont, USA. He has received many prestigious international awards, including the Commonwealth Academic Staff Fellowship, Japan Foundation Fellowship, Japan Student Services Organization Fellowship, Australian Endeavour Fellowship, Experts for Asia award from the European Union, Swissnex award for mobility and the Fulbright Fellowship. His research interests include agribusiness and food systems, climate change, and food security. Esham has published over 40 peer-reviewed papers in the area of agri-food systems. Esham has served as the Dean of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences and the Head of the Department of Agribusiness Management at the Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka. He has served as a visiting professor at Tottori University, Japan and Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland. He has served as a consultant for several international organizations including UNIDO, ILO, IWMI, the European Union, DFAT Australia, and the World Bank. Currently, he is the Sri Lankan coordinator of an Erasmus+ + project (SUCCESSFUL) on climate change education supported by the European Union. 

linkedin.com/in/mohamed-esham-phd-a0559526

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4498-9274

Scopus Author ID: 54977456700

https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Mohamed-Esham

Food Systems

Climate Change

Food Security

Regeneraative Agriculture

Entrepreneurship

• Development of Farmers' Happiness Index with Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland, Geography of Food / ZHAW and University of Agricultural Sciences, Bangalore, India.
• Sustainability and Climate Change Education in Sri Lanka for Systems Change and Futures Literacy (SUCCESSFUL) Erasmus+ Capacity Building in Higher Education project
• From urban waste to sustainable value chains: Linking sanitation and agriculture through innovative partnerships
• Towards Phosphorus and Climate Smart Agriculture (PACSA) in Sri Lanka
• Cinnamon value chain development
• Towards food security in Sri Lanka: A framework to strengthen the adaptive capacity of food value chains to climate change

Google Scholar

Researchgate

Rathnachandra, D., Malkanthi, S. H. P., Esham, M., & Samaraweera, S. (2025). Knowledge transfer and sustainable entrepreneurial behaviour in agribusiness: A systematic review of research gaps. International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJESB.2026.10068982

Abdullah, R., Najim, M. M. M., & Esham, M. (2024). Agriculture for Sustainable Development to Empower Smallholder Farming Communities. Journal of Agricultural Sciences–Sri Lanka, 19(3).

Mahinda, T. G. N., Esham, M., Rosairo, H. S. R., & Shyamalie, H. W. (2024). Practical Strategies for Addressing the Worker Shortages: Insights from Sri Lankan Tea Plantations. Journal of Food and Agriculture, 17(2).

Mahinda, T. G. N., Esham, M., Rosairo, H. S. R., & Shyamalie, H. W. (2024). Practical Strategies for Addressing the Worker Shortages: Insights from Sri Lankan Tea Plantations. Journal of Food and Agriculture, 17(2).

Fein-Cole, M. J., Esham, M., et al. (2024). Lessons from the short-lived 2021 fertilizer import ban in Sri Lanka: An analysis of nutrient flows. ACS Sustainable Resource Management.

Sawadogo, D., Matsumura, I., Esham, M., Fernandez, C., & Elias, A. (2024). Impact of Microdosing Practices on Technical Efficiency: An Analysis Accounting for Selection Bias among Smallholder Maize Farmers in Burkina Faso. Journal of Agricultural Science, 16(3).

Karunaratne AS, Wimalasiri EM, Esham M, Mabhaudhi T and Jahanshiri E (2024). Crop modelling - underutilized crops for climate-smart agrifood systems. Front. Sustain. Food Syst. 8:1305909. doi: 10.3389/fsufs.2024.1305909

Roy, E. D., Esham, M., Jayathilake, N., Otoo, M., Koliba, C., Wijethunga, I. B., & Fein-Cole, M. J. (2021). Compost quality and markets are pivotal for sustainability in circular food-nutrient systems: a case study of Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 442.

Rosairo, H. S. R., & Esham, M. (2021). Pitfalls of External Institutional Facilitation of Farmer Organizations: Insights from Farmer Companies in Sri Lanka. Millennial Asia. https://doi.org/10.1177/09763996211060772

Cordell, D., Brownlie, W. J., & Esham, M. (2021). Commentary: Time to take responsibility on phosphorus: Towards circular food systems. Global Environmental Change, 102406.

Roy, E. D., Esham, M., Jayathilake, N., Otoo, M., Koliba, C., Wijethunga, I. B., & Fein-Cole, M. J. (2021). Compost quality and markets are pivotal for sustainability in circular food-nutrient systems: A case study of Sri Lanka. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 442.

Hettiarachchi, I. C., De Silva, D. A. M., & Esham, M. (2021). International Tourists’ Perceptions on Spice Markets: A Guideline to Introduce Spice Market Concept into Sri Lankan Context. Journal of Agricultural Sciences–Sri Lanka, 16(03).

Cordell, D., Dominish, E., Esham, M., Jacobs, B., & Nanda, M. (2021). Adapting food systems to the twin challenges of phosphorus and climate vulnerability: the case of Sri Lanka. Food Security, 1-16.

Hettiarachchi, I. C., De Silva, D. A. M., Esham, M., Liyanagamage, T. M., Abeysinghe, A. M. I. P., Warnakulasooriya, S., & Harindra, W. A. M. (2020). An Assessment of Market Landscape of Cinnamon in Sri Lanka. Journal of Agricultural Sciences–Sri Lanka, 15(2).

Mahaliyanaarachchi, R., Elapata, M., Esham, M., et al. (2019). Agritourism as a sustainable adaptation option for climate change. Open Agriculture, 4(1), pp. 737-742.

Esham, M., Rosairo, H.S.R., Wijeratne, A.W. (2018). Future of Work for Tea Smallholders in Sri Lanka. International Labour Organization, ILO Country Office for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.

Esham, M., Jacobs, B., Rosairo, H.S.R. et al. (2017). Climate change and food security: a Sri Lankan perspective. Environ Dev Sustain. doi:10.1007/s10668-017-9945-5

Tolno, E., Kobayashi, H., Ichizen, M., Esham, M., Balde, B. S. (2016). Potato Production and Supply by Smallholder Farmers in Guinea: An Economic Analysis Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 8(3), 1-16.

Tolno, E., Kobayashi, H., Ichizen, M., Esham, M., Balde, B. S. (2015). Economic Analysis of the Role of Farmer Organizations in Enhancing Smallholder Potato Farmers’ Income in Middle Guinea. Journal of Agricultural Science, 7(3), 123-137.

Esham, M. (2014). Technical Efficiency and Determinants of Maize Production by Smallholder Farmers in the Moneragala District of Sri Lanka. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 5(27), 416-422.

Balde, B. S., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Esham, M. (2014) A Stochastic Frontier Approach for Measuring Technical Efficiency of Small-scale Improved Salt production in Guinea. American Journal of Applied Sciences, 11(8), 1310.

Esham, M. and Gosforth, C. (2013): Agricultural adaptation to climate change: insights from a farming community in Sri Lanka. Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change.18 (5), 535-549.

Esham, M. and Garforth, C. (2013): Climate change and agricultural adaptation in Sri Lanka: a review. Climate and Development. 5(1), 66-76.

Balde, B. S., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I.and Esham, M. (2013): Land Use Changes and their Determinants in the Coastal Area of Guinea: A Study based on Spatial Analysis and Field Survey. Japanese Journal of Farm Management. 51(3), 97-102.

Balde, B. S., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Esham, M. (2013): Analysis of Small-Scale Salt Production Techniques in the Coastal Area of Guinea: An Alternative for Improving Livelihood Status and Mangrove Forest Management. International Journal of Research in Management, Economics and Commerce. 3(9), 1-23.

Esham, M. and Kobayashi, H. (2013): Farmer Companies in Sri Lanka: Lessons from Agricultural Cooperatives in Japan Millennial Asia 4(2), 117–133.

Esham, M., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Alam, A. (2012): Japanese Agricultural Cooperatives at Crossroads: A Review American-Eurasian J. Agric. & Environ. Sci. 12 (07), 943-953.

Esham, M. (2012): Lessons for Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) in Sri Lanka: Experiences from Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) in Japan. Journey of Harmony (Commutative volume). University of Colombo Sri Lanka.

Alam, A., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I., Ishida, A. and Mohamed, E. (2012): Technical efficiency and its determinants in potato production: evidence from northern areas in Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. International Journal of Research in Management, Economics and Commerce 2 (3), 1-17.

Esham, M. (2012): Is Outward Bound Training (OBT) An Effective Tool for Human Resource Development (HRD)? A Case Study from Sri Lanka. International Journal of Contemporary Business Studies 3 (4), 42-50.

Wen, J, Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Mohamed, E.. (2012): Adoption of accounting software by agro-based enterprises in China. International Journal of Research in Engineering, IT and Social Sciences 2(2), 82-99.

Arif, A., Kobayashi, H., Matsuda, T., Ishida, A. and Esham, M. (2012): Stochastic frontier approach to measure technical efficiency of two irrigation systems in Gilgit district, Gilgit-Baltistan region of Pakistan. Journal of Food, Agriculture & Environment. 10 (1), 543-550.

Alam, A., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Esham, M. (2012): Factors Influencing Farmers’ Participation in Participatory Irrigation Management: A Comparative Study of two Irrigation Systems in Northern Areas of Pakistan

Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences 3 (9), 275-284.

Alam, A., Kobayashi, H., Matsumura, I. and Esham, M. (2011): A comparative economic analysis of crop production between improved and traditional irrigation system: a case study of a village from Gilgit district in northern areas of Pakistan

Journal of rural problems. 47 (1), 132-137.

Esham, M. (2009): A Comparative Study of Farmers-Agribusiness Linkages in Sri Lanka. American-Eurasian Journal of Agric. & Environmental Sciences. 6(5), 600-608.

Esham, M. and Usami, K. (2007) Evaluating the Performance of Farmer Companies in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Ridi Bendi Ela Farmer Company. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 3(2), 86-100.

Esham, M., Usami, K., Kobayashi, H. and Matsumura I. (2006): An Economic Study of Contract Farming in the Fruit and Vegetable Industry in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Gherkin (Cucumis sativus) Production. Journal of Rural Problems. 42(1), 14-23.

Esham, M., Kobayashi, H., Usami, K. and Matsumura I. (2006): Factors Influencing Crop Diversification in Sri Lanka. Japanese Journal of Farm Management. 44(1), 148-152

Perez, J. M., Kobayashi, H., Sato, T., Matsumura, I. and Esham, M. (2006): Export-oriented Asian Vegetable Production in Comayagua Region, Honduras and its Influence on Land Use. Japanese Journal of Farm Management. 44(1), 138-143.

Esham, M. and Usami, K. (2006): Procurement Behaviour of the Fruit and Vegetable Industry in Sri Lanka. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 2(3), 36-44.

Najim, M.M.M, T.S. Lee, T.S, Haque Aminul, M. and Esham, M. (2006): Sustainability of Rice Production: A Malaysian perspective. Journal of Agricultural Sciences. 3(1), 1-12.

Esham, M., Usami, K., Kobayashi, H. and Matsumura, I. (2005): Present State and Issues of a Farmers Agribusiness Linkage in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Gherkin Production, Japanese Journal of Farm Management. 43(1), 137-142.

Esham, M., Usami, K., Kobayashi, H. and Matsumura I. (2005): Determinants of Farmers’ Participation in Farmers-Agribusiness Linkage and Its Implication for Income Distribution in Sri Lanka - A Case Study of Hybrid Maize Production, Journal of Rural Problems. 41(1), 200-205.

Esham, M. and Usami, K. (2005): Present State and Issues of Farmers-Agribusiness Linkages through Farmer Organization/Group in Sri Lanka: A Case Study of Hybrid Maize Production, Journal of Agricultural Development Studies. 16(2), 27-36.

Esham, M. (2004): The Role of Social Networks in the Entrepreneurial Performance of Small & Medium Scale Entrepreneurs in the Ratnapura District, Sabaragamuwa University Journal. 4(1), 18-33.

• Consultant to UNIDO project on "Processed food and pepper value chain analysis" 2018.
• Consultant to Rainforest Alliance USA project on "Impact assessment of tea smallholders adoption of sustainable farming practices" 2017-2018.
• Co-investigator "Cinnamon value chain development" Funded by Ministry of Primary Industries Sri Lanka. 2017-2018.
• Co-investigator "Towards phosphorus and climate-smart agriculture (PACSA) in Sri Lanka" - collaborative research project with University of Technology Sydney, Australia. 2016-2017.
• Consultant "Sustainable farming practices by tea smallholders in Sri Lanka" -2015.
• Consultant to World Bank "University-Industry Collaboration in Sri Lanka" 2015.
• Consultant to Provincial Council Central Province "Preparation of Tourism Master Plan of Central Province-Sri Lanka" - 2012.
• Consultant to Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council for preparation of Ratnapura district Sri Lanka development plan-2010.
• Consultant to ILO for the baseline survey on Youth Employment Project I -2008.
• Study on University-Industry Linkages in Sri Lanka, A World Bank sponsored project undertaken by the National Education Commission, Sri Lanka-2007.
• The potential of High-Value Crops, Their Financial and Marketing Feasibility. This feasibility study was carried out for the Sabaragamuwa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Sri Lanka- 2001.
• Pear revitalization project Uva Province, Sri Lanka. This was a project funded by Government of New Zealand and concluded successfully with the collaboration of Hort-Research of New Zealand- 1997-1999.

• Esham, M., Wijeratne, A. W., & Ruhanage, I. (2024). Vulnerability of food system to climate change: A case study of upcountry vegetable supply chains in Sri Lanka. In C. Malalgoda, D. Amaratunga, R. Haigh, S. Nissanka, R. P. Borg, & M. Hamza (Eds.), Climate change adaptation in the built environment: Transdisciplinary and innovative learning (In press). Springer.
• Esham, M., Senevirathne, M. M. S. C., De Silva, D. A. M., Rosairo, H. S. R., Karunaratne, A. S., Wimalasiri, E. M., Korkeakoski, M., & Haapasaari, O. (2024). Climate change education in universities: A Sri Lankan perspective. In C. Malalgoda, D. Amaratunga, R. Haigh, S. Nissanka, R. P. Borg, & M. Hamza (Eds.), Climate change adaptation in the built environment: Transdisciplinary and innovative learning (in press), Springer.
• Koliba, C., Herath, K., Esham, M., Kuruppu, V., & Kumara, D. (2024). Governance of village tank cascade system restoration: Role of watershed scale coordinating mechanisms for aligning interests and services. In N. Geekiyanage, J. Gunarathna, M. Ranagalage, G. Y. Jayasinghe, M. P. Perera, & M. Vithanage (Eds.), Tank cascade systems of Sri Lanka: A globally important agricultural heritage system (in press). CRC Press, Taylor Francis Group.
• Carmichael, A., Liyanage, C. L., De Silva, A., Esham, M., Jayasinghe, G., & Nawaratne, C. (2024). Developing a joint master’s degree programme in agroecosystem resilience for Sri Lanka. In C. Malalgoda, D. Amaratunga, R. Haigh, S. Nissanka, R. P. Borg, & M. Hamza (Eds.), Climate change adaptation in the built environment: Transdisciplinary and innovative learning (in press). Springer.
• Balde, B. S., Setiawati, M. D., Nampa, I. W., & Esham, M. (2022). Impacts of Climate Variability on Food Security Dimensions in Indonesia: Reference from the Nusa Tenggara Timur Province. Sustainable Agriculture Systems and Technologies, 81-116.
• Esham, M., & Wijeratne, A. W. (2021). Risk and Vulnerability Assessment for Resilience Building in the Colombo City Region Food System (CRFS). FAO.
• De Silva, A. M., & Esham, M. (2020). Cinnamon Value Chain Dynamics and Enhancement. In Cinnamon (pp. 377-405). Springer, Cham.
• De Silva, A. M., & Esham, M. (2020). Ceylon Cinnamon Production and Markets. In Cinnamon (pp. 63-84). Springer, Cham.
• Larsen, K., Bandara, D. C., Esham, M., & Unantenne, R. (2016). Promoting University-industry Collaboration in Sri Lanka: Status, Case Studies, and Policy Options. World Bank Publications. ISBN 978-1-4648-0929-3.
• Mahaliyanaarachchi, R. P., Rosairo, H. R., & Esham, M. (2004). Potential High-Value Horticultural Crops, Their Financial and Marketing Feasibility. Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Sabaragamuwa, University of Sri Lanka. ISBN 955-644-080-8.
• Esham, M. (2012): Lessons for Farmer Based Organizations (FBO) in Sri Lanka: Experiences from Agricultural Cooperatives (JA) in Japan. In H. D. Karunaratne (Ed.) A Journey in Harmony: Sixty years of Japan - Sri Lanka relation. University of Colombo Sri Lanka. ISBN 978-955-50475-4-8.

International

• Swissnex Mobility Grant 2022 Awarded by a Consortium of Universities in Switzerland to visit Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland.
• Fulbright Scholar 2018/2019 University of Vermont, Burlington, USA.
• Australian Endeavour Research Fellowship 2015. Awarded by the Australian Government.
• Erasmus Mundus Experts for Asia Fellowship 2014, University of Turku, Finland
• Japan Foundation Fellowship- 2012.
• Visiting Associate Professor, Tottori University Japan 2010, 2011, 2012
• Commonwealth Fellowship-October, 2010 to March 2011 at the University of Reading, United Kingdom.
• Japan Student Services Organization Fellowship-May, 2010 to August 2010 at Tottori University Japan.
• Japanese Government Scholarship to read for the Doctoral Degree at Tottori University Japan from 2002 to 2006.
• Japanese Government Scholarship  for Japanese Language Studies at Okayama University, Japan, 2002

National 

• National Research Council Sri Lanka Merit Awards for Scientific Publications in 2013.
• Outstanding researcher 2013- Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka.
• Sri Lanka Presidential award fellowship-2002.

Editor-in-Chief: Sabaragamuwa University Journal

Editorial Board Member: Journal of Agricultural Sciences

Editorial Board Member Millianial Asia 

Reviewer: World Development, Global Environmental Change, Journal of Co-operative Organization and Management, Environment, Development and Sustainability, and Weather, Climate and Society.

Invited talk delivered at Gund Institute for Environment, University of Vermont, USA.

Podcast: Climate Change Impact and Adaptation in the Agricultural Sector in Sri Lanka

Visiting Professor, Zurich University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland. 2022

Visiting Associate Professor, Faculty of Agriculture, Tottori University, Japan 2010/2011/2012

Chairman Board of Study in Agricultural Sciences, Faculty of Graduate Studies, SUSL.

Entrepreneurship, Research Methods, Organizational Behaviour & Dynamics, Food Business