Food security in Sri Lanka - agronomic implications and potentials

Abstract

:The population of the world is growing at an alarming rate and its greatest impact is on the developing nations of Asia and Africa. South Asia, which has the poorest population in Asia is also affected by this process. Among the nations of South Asia, Sri Lanka has a relatively high degree of social welfare, although food security for its 20.1 million people is not achieved. This is due to the phenomenon of smallholder farming systems producing some 90% of the food required under marginal conditions in low fertile soils. The current problems of irregular climates, global warming and anthropogenic effects of conventional intensive cropping have added to the challenges facing the increase of in-country food production. As land for expansion of food crop cultivation is not available in Sri Lanka, short term measures are required for enhancing crop productivity to ensure food security within the next decade. The options available are breeding suitable crops or enhancing agronomic management of the food crop systems. As breeding programmes take time and could be expensive, the short term measures to increase food production would thus be improved agronomic management of the smallholder farming systems. A principal component of improved agronomic management of food crop systems is the building up of soil quality and its maintenance to ensure sustained productivity in the context of rising costs of inputs. The role of holistic agronomic practices such as green manures, crop rotations, and even agroforestry and their integration to enhance food productivity and maintain sustainability to ensure that Sri Lanka could achieve its targets of food security is presented in this review.

Consumer Attitudes towards Organic Food Consumption: Focus Group Discussion in Colombo District, Sri Lanka

“…Furthermore, it is usually seen as being more environmentally friendly than food tourism because it conserves the environment. Argumentatively, the findings of Sangakkara and Katupitiya (2000) declared that the risen demand for organic food quantity than food quality has resulted conventional farming to dominate the food industry in Sri Lanka. However, despite conventional agricultural methods, many nations across the world regulate and legally enforce organic agricultural methods based on the standards set by the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM).…”

Challenges of agri-food supply in city region food systems: an emerging economy perspective

“…Sri Lanka is an emerging economy in Asia and is struggling to gather momentum to meet the increasing demand for food for the nation (Fernando et al, 2016). Furthermore, all agricultural sectors of Sri Lanka have failed to increase their food supply potential over the last few years (Fernando et al, 2016;Sangakkara and Nissanka, 2008). As a result, food insecurity is a major problem in Sri Lanka (Mayadunne and Romeshun, 2013).…”

Challenges and Way-Forward of Non-Organic Agriculture to Organic Agriculture: A Comparative Study Between China and Sri Lanka

“…requirements through small holder sector included small farmers who cultivates rice, vegetables, legumes, tubers, spices, and fruits (Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) Ministry of Agriculture, 2018; Sangakkara & Katupitiya, 2004). According to the statistics, Sri Lanka possesses organic agricultural land of 77,169 hectares in 2018 which is a decrease of 19,149 hectares compared to 2017.…”