Sri Lanka’s paddy cultivation records growth despite crop damage due to drought
Authorities in Sri Lanka have reportedly forecasted that 1.471 million tonnes of paddy would be produced in the Yala (minor cultivation) season of 2019 with 12,278 metric tonnes lost due to crop damaged mostly due to drought.
However the agriculture sector has recorded a strong Maha (main cultivation) season this year.
Sri Lanka’s Department of Agriculture has reportedly stated that in the main Maha 2019 cultivation season Sri Lanka had harvested 2.59 million metric tonnes of paddy, putting the country in line to produce 2.73 million tonnes of rice for the complete year.
The normal consumption pattern is noted at 2.34 million metric tonnes of rice a year Sri Lanka, based on a monthly consumption of 195,000 metric tonnes of rice, the local media has reported.
Therefore, Sri Lanka may end up with a 382,212 metric tonnes of surplus rice unless there is further crop damage, reports note.
However, the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) data has revealed that Samba retail rice prices have declined this year, which may boost consumption while the retail price of Kekulu (raw) rice was about Rs. 75 per kilo by August 2019 and Samba Rs. 85, compared to Rs.78 rupees for raw and Rs. 111 for Samba last year.
The Yala 2019 forecast is based on 358,680 hectares of field cultivated up to June 2019 which is 78 percent of the target for 2019.
Progress up to June was 7 percent higher than average sown in the last three seasons.
OSL take:
Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector is engaged in modernizing and upgrading its agriculture methods. Also, attention is being given to the development of new varieties of crops that are climate resilient and to technologically advanced methods of storing yields to minimize wastage while preserving goods. This has resulted in the creation of many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/21082019/Z_1 |