Paddy fields are drying up across Sri Lanka's dry zone as El Niño conditions persist, prompting farmers to demand relief and raising questions about government priorities regarding food security and water management.
Sri Lanka is confronting mounting agricultural challenges as drought conditions spread through several regions, with the Irrigation Department reporting severe water shortages affecting farmers in Hambantota, Moneragala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and the Northern Province. While debate continues over whether current dry conditions are directly attributable to El Niño, the tangible impact on crop yields has prompted farmers' associations to seek government assistance, citing inadequate funding for mitigation programmes.
Water resource management has emerged as a critical concern. The Water Management Secretariat within the Mahaweli Authority reports that major reservoir levels remain above historical averages for this period, yet the Victoria reservoir's storage has already declined to 35% capacity. Compounding this situation, the country's heavy dependence on hydropower generation—resulting from coal quality issues at the Norochcholai power complex—creates competing demands on limited water supplies. Combined with increasing irrigation and domestic consumption needs, experts warn that a comprehensive contingency plan is essential.
The situation is further complicated by government policy decisions that critics argue prioritise competing interests over food security. The Agriculture Minister recently announced that rice will be permitted for manufacturing animal feed and beer production, citing difficulties faced by feed manufacturers due to maize import restrictions. This decision comes amid significant hunger concerns, with World Food Programme data indicating approximately 39% of Sri Lankan households lack adequate diets, a situation exacerbated by recent Cyclone Ditwah impacts.
Observers have questioned whether the government's stated fiscal surplus could be better allocated toward purchasing paddy from struggling farmers at fair prices and building strategic grain reserves rather than facilitating alternative uses for rice. The unpredictable nature of El Niño weather patterns—which can simultaneously trigger droughts and floods across different regions—adds urgency to establishing robust food security measures.
