Major food crisis in October?
Sri Lanka will face a major food crisis next October if urgent issues in the Agri sector are not addressed immediately, said the Land and Agriculture Standing committee (LASC) of the Organisation of Professional Associations of Sri Lanka (OPA) on Friday.
OPA Land and Agriculture Standing committee member Nelson De Silva said that the sector urgently needs fertilizer, pesticides and fuel and if they are not provided within the next three weeks firstly the forthcoming paddy plantation (Yala) season would be affected resulting in a huge scarcity of rice in October 2022.
“Since the demand for rice is increasing globally Sri Lanka will find it difficult to even import rice as well and a major ‘rice catastrophe’ will unfold. “Prices will increase to unprecedented levels and there will be huge queues to purchase rice due to this scarcity.”
In 2011 Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice and only 1% of speciality rice like Basmati was imported, the agriculture sector of Sri Lanka was progressing well in 2020 despite the COVID-19 situation. However, the sudden decision to implement the impractical and non-scientific policy of banning chemical fertilizer and pesticides has resulted in irreversible damage to food security. In 2020, Sri Lanka imported $8.41 million in rice, making it the 55th largest exporter of rice in the world and this doubled in 2021.
“This directly resulted in a 40% drop in rice production and price hikes at unaffordable levels and has also reduced the agriculture export earnings, especially affecting the tea industry, leading to a foreign exchange crisis.”
Sri Lanka’s annual fertilizer imports cost $400 million but with a limited production, the import bill for rice would also be similar to this. “However if fertilizer is once again available to the level of the ‘pre-ban era’ Sri Lanka will be able to go back to its earlier production capabilities by the next ‘Maha’ season. He also advised that people including protesters should look at growing some kind of ‘eatables’ in their homes.
OPA member Ajith Gunasekera said that the fruit and vegetable sector has suffered due to the ban and they expect a 35% reduction in production in this segment as well. Also, there is a demand for new seeds for plantations. Shortages of the raw material (e.g. forages) for the animal feed industry have drastically affected the cost of production of the animal industry leading to dramatic price hikes and required pesticides and veterinary drugs should be made available soon.
President OPA, Dulitha Perera said that they observe this grave upcoming situation and have prepared a ‘Way Forward’ short and long term proposals highlighting the issues and solutions to the government and relevant authorities for urgent attention and immediate implementation.
He said that they have forwarded many productive proposals to the government before and they were not followed up and this was the reason to call up the media and simultaneously present it to the authorities. It was also pointed out that there is a shift toward organic food production in the fruit and vegetable sector and investments made towards organic fertilizer production after the ban was not in vain.
He said that they have forwarded many productive proposals to the government before and they were not followed up and this was the reason to call up the media and simultaneously present it to the authorities.
It was also pointed out that there is a shift toward organic food production in the fruit and vegetable sector and investments made towards organic fertilizer production after the ban was not in vain.
Following are the OPA proposals for immediate action.
A. Immediate priority:
1. Provide the required inorganic fertilizers and promote the use of organic matter urgently
a. Urea, Phosphatic fertilizer and Muriate of Potash at recommended levels for all crops, including fodder
b. Specialty fertilizer for hi-tech agriculture
c. Provide technical know-how for farmers to use organic matter sustainably in conjunction with the inorganic fertilizers
d. The progress of this activity needs monitoring by Agriculture officers and reported to the Ministry at regular intervals by Agrarian Service divisions
2. Ensure uninterrupted usage of fuel-driven farm machinery and implements for harvesting and threshing of late cultivators of the Maha season 2021/2022 and land preparation for the Yala season 2022 in the case of paddy and other food crop production, and for transportation of poultry (egg and meat) and dairy (milk) products and farm inputs (feed and veterinary) and introduce profitable marketable crops to the market and new mechanism for low-cost packing to minimize the damage and waste while transportation
3. Supply quality Seeds to the growers, sourced either locally or imported.
a. Vegetable seeds – Upcountry vegetables, and other crops
b. Maize seeds for the Yala season of 2022, and especially for the Maha season 2022/2023
c. Local legume and oilseeds for the Yala season of 2022
d. Commercial seed purchasing and distribution program for paddy and Other Field Crops
4. Make required pesticides and veterinary drugs available in the market/try for new agents or dealers for pesticides, strictly following quality standards
a. Import recommended pesticides (weedicides, insecticides, and fungicides) and veterinary drugs
b. Develop a prescription-based pesticide issuance system
c. Strictly follow quality standards of all imported agricultural inputs while encouraging and supporting the local innovations and input development.
5. Develop a mechanism to promote and commercialize local technologies and innovations with the recommendation of the mandated state institutions through scientific research
6. Popularize and expand Good Agriculture Practices (GAP)-certification program at the National level
a. Increase the GAP-certified cultivation area
b. Strengthen the GAP certification program with trained manpower
c. Develop market linkages for GAP-certified products
d. Increase awareness of GAP among producers and consumers
e. Develop and implement a road map to make GAP certification a mandatory requirement for selected crop production systems
7. Provide credit facilities and ensure easy access as and when required while introducing appropriate risk management system in the food system.
8. Conduct a scientifically-just motivation campaign on production, productivity and efficient input usage with stakeholders supported by all media networks, under the leadership of the Department of Agriculture (DOA), Mahaweli Authority (MASL), Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDOA), Department of Animal Production & Health (DAPH), Provincial Department of Animal Production & Health Department of the Agrarian Development (DAD).
9. Energize the Agriculture extension system in both crop and animal production sectors in Sri Lanka by bringing in national, provincial, and private sector extension systems under one umbrella for operational work, without any changes made to the provisions granted by the Provincial Council Act of 1987.
10. Develop required standards for locally produced agricultural inputs (especially organic fertilizer) and ensure strict adherence, in consultation with the Sri Lanka Standards Institution.
11. Introduce a simple and practical mechanism to reduce the postharvest losses in vegetables and fruits, through proper planning in conjunction with the cultivation planning.
12. Establish an efficient supply and distribution mechanism with an effective monitoring system for all agricultural (both crop and livestock) produced within the food system. Introduce methods to reduce losses & damages during transportation of agricultural products and have sufficient storage facilities
13. Promote year-around adoption of precision farming at all levels through private-public partnership programs.
14. Further strengthen crop and livestock production forecast systems and minimize gluts and lean periods throughout the year through the engagement of all stakeholders.
It is further emphasized that the medium and long-term programs implemented by the Department of Agriculture, Department of Animal Production & Health, Department of Agrarian Development, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka, the Provincial Departments of Agriculture and Animal production & Health, and the and private sector agencies, be reactivated for implementation of a sustainable agriculture system.
We would kindly request you arrange a discussion with the experts from the OPA to enable us to provide more details.