By: Staff Writer
April 13, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka is facing a significant downturn in agricultural output during the first two months of 2025, with key crops such as paddy, tea, coconut, and rubber experiencing notable declines. The Central Bank of Sri Lanka revealed that these setbacks—largely driven by unfavorable weather conditions and structural inefficiencies—are already impacting both food availability and the income of farming communities across the island.
The drop in production has serious implications for the country’s rural economy, which depends heavily on agriculture for employment and sustenance. With thousands of families reliant on farming and related industries, the dip in crop yield and fisheries output raises concerns about rising food prices, reduced export earnings, and mounting financial pressure on vulnerable households.
Main Body (Paraphrased Content):
According to the Central Bank’s latest statistics, paddy cultivation for the 2024/2025 Maha season is expected to drop by 4.2%, reaching 2.61 million metric tons, compared to the previous season. This decline follows an otherwise positive trend in 2024’s Yala season, which saw an 8.8% increase in output, bringing the total annual paddy production for 2024 to 4.7 million metric tons—up 4.1% from the year before.
Fish production has also shown a troubling pattern, decreasing by 15.1% in January 2025 compared to January 2024. Although February saw a slight 1.0% year-on-year increase, the overall output remains weak, particularly due to a fall in inland fishery activities, which form a significant part of rural food supply and employment.
Tea, one of Sri Lanka’s most crucial export commodities, recorded a dramatic 22.0% year-on-year drop in February 2025. The primary cause is attributed to prolonged dry weather conditions affecting plantation zones. Adding to the pressure, global tea prices saw a general downturn, with only the Mombasa auction reflecting a modest increase, while Colombo and Kolkata auctions posted lower average prices.
Coconut yields also fell sharply, with a 31.6% decrease year-on-year in February 2025. Similarly, the rubber sector showed a production slump during the same period, as per provisional figures from the Rubber Development Department. While the international price of natural rubber saw a rise due to supply disruptions from adverse weather in major producing countries, domestic producers may not benefit equally, given the local production drop.
Spice exports offered a glimmer of hope, with higher revenues in February 2025, particularly from products like pepper, cinnamon, and cloves. However, other spices, including turmeric, ginger, clove, and cinnamon, saw price declines, reflecting market volatility and uneven performance across crop categories.
In summary, Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector is facing multiple challenges at the start of 2025, threatening both economic stability and the well-being of those who rely on it. Unless corrective measures are taken to mitigate the impact of climate variability and strengthen support for farmers and fisheries, the country may face further hardships in food security and rural livelihoods.
