By: Staff Writer
December 21, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka’s vegetable cultivation sector is facing a precarious future following the widespread devastation caused by the recent cyclone, which has damaged nearly 175,000 hectares of agricultural land about 7.6 percent of the country’s total cultivable area. While paddy losses dominate the headlines, the destruction of vegetable-growing areas threatens a more immediate impact on household food security, market prices, and rural livelihoods.
Official assessments compiled by the Department of Agriculture in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reveal that between 7,000 and 8,000 hectares of vegetable cultivation have been wiped out. Nuwara Eliya, the country’s main upcountry vegetable hub, has recorded losses exceeding 1,000 hectares, followed by Badulla with nearly 930 hectares. Significant damage has also been reported in Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, Batticaloa, and Puttalamregions that collectively supply a large share of low-country vegetables.
The immediate consequence is a sharp contraction in supply. Vegetables, unlike paddy, have shorter cultivation cycles and are highly sensitive to waterlogging. Flooded soils, damaged seedbeds, and destroyed irrigation channels mean that even farmers willing to replant face delays of several weeks. This gap is already translating into price volatility in urban markets, disproportionately affecting low-income consumers.
Beyond prices, the cyclone has exposed deeper structural vulnerabilities. Satellite data shows flood inundation levels of 13–16 percent in districts such as Mannar, Mullaitivu, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee, suggesting that climate-driven shocks are becoming more frequent and geographically widespread. Without adaptive measures, vegetable cultivation in these regions could become increasingly unviable.
The government’s short-term response must therefore focus on rapid recovery rather than long-term rhetoric. Immediate provision of quality seeds, fertilizer, and short-duration vegetable varieties is critical to enable re-cultivation within weeks. Emergency rehabilitation of minor irrigation systems and drainage channels would allow farmers to resume planting before the next seasonal window closes.
Equally important is financial relief. With 38 percent of rural households already burdened by debt, according to UNDP data, many vegetable farmers borrowed heavily assuming a successful Maha harvest. Temporary debt moratoriums, low-interest recovery loans, and targeted cash grants could prevent farmers from abandoning cultivation altogether.
If swift action is taken, vegetable farming can recover faster than other crops. But delays risk turning a climate shock into a prolonged food supply crisis, undermining both farmer incomes and national food security.
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