Sri Lanka used to be called the Granary of the East in ancient times. Such was its reputation as an agricultural power. Our ancient irrigation systems, most of which are still functional, are ample testimony to our prowess in this vital sector. Until fairly recently, Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice and many other crops.
With the opening of the economy in the late 1970s, a flood of imports poured into the country, among them various foods. Paradoxically, some of these crops and foods were grown here successfully. This imparted an import-dependent mentality in terms of foods and everything else, as local agriculture and industries were neglected.
The impetus for this massive food import drive perhaps came from the austerity measures adopted by the Sirimavo Bandaranaike Government in the wake of a serious economic downturn experienced globally following the 1973 oil crisis.
The economic crisis we are experiencing now is not much different, the exception being that our economy is even more integrated with the rest of the world and our dependence on food and other imports is even higher. Back then, to ward off a food crisis similar to the one being predicted now, the Bandaranaike Government decreed an islandwide food drive that covered schools, homes, offices and practically every available inch of arable land. All citizens were encouraged to cultivate yams, vegetables and fruits. Certain foods and other items were rationed, so that everyone could get a fair share.
Had this program continued in the intervening 45 years, Sri Lanka would have been self-sufficient in many crops, not just rice, by now. However, sacrifice is not the best trait of Sri Lankans and the Government became deeply unpopular over the economic crisis. Not surprisingly, the Opposition United National Party achieved a landslide victory at the 1977 General Election. Just a couple of years later, President J.R. Jayewardene opened the floodgates to imports and the local food drive was obliterated, along with dozens of local industries such as handlooms.
No Sri Lankan Government elected since then has had the vision or the courage to begin a local food cultivation drive, until circumstances forced us to revert to local farming in a big way following the eruption of the global Covid-19 pandemic in March 2020. The Government has since banned or restricted the import of a number of foods and encouraged the local cultivation of at least 14 varieties of crops. However, some foods still have to be imported, either because they are not grown here or because they are grown only in very limited quantities. Now is the right time, as the Government has decided, to use every available inch for growing some variety of food. Even apartment dwellers can grow certain vegetables and fruits in flower pots. This will help avert a major food crisis.
The decision to go all-organic was good, but was ill-timed and in any case, no country has gone organic overnight. It is a slow-burn process that could take around 15 years at least. Right now, no organic fertiliser or agrochemical can match the performance of their chemical equivalents and if used in the right quantities, they do not pose a danger to health. It is however true that some farmers tend to use them in excess, which could be harmful to people’s health.
It is, therefore, imperative that the fertiliser issue is resolved as soon as possible, lest this could lead to a reduction of yields and a food crisis. A viable fertiliser distribution mechanism must be implemented through countrywide farmers’ organisations. But right now, a food crisis could still occur as a result of the fuel crisis, which has adversely affected the diesel supply to tractors and harvesters and also to the trucks transporting farmers’ produce to the Dedicated Economic Centres (DECs) in Dambulla and elsewhere. Without fuel, even if there is a good harvest, there would be no way to get food to consumers’ hands. This will lead to massive food wastage, as already being witnessed at DECs.
Even under normal circumstances, around 40 percent of all food is wasted, a phenomenon known as Post-Harvest Losses (PHL). This takes into account the food that is wasted during transport, storage and sales. Poised on the verge of a food crisis, we cannot afford to waste even a single kilogram of produce.
The same applies to the consumer – families should prepare just the right amount of food to minimise any waste. Solutions have to be evolved for the long-term storage of food (in case of excess harvests) and better transport/cold room options. The authorities should also drastically limit imports of non-essential fruits, vegetables and processed foods to save precious foreign exchange, at least until our finances are in order. Conversely, we should find new markets for our export crops, both traditional and non-traditional, which can earn foreign exchange.
Food is so central and fundamental to our lives that we sometimes take it for granted. With the entire world’s food supply chain in limbo as a result of the Russia-Ukraine War, Climate Change and the general downturn in the global economy, not to mention the domestic economic crisis, we may not have easy access to food in the coming months and years.
Malnutrition among children is already rife. Thus it should be all hands on deck in terms of crop cultivation, with maximum efforts taken to widen the areas under the plough.
Our universities and research institutes should also redouble their efforts to find better yielding crop varieties. A holistic approach is indeed needed to develop our agriculture at this decisive juncture.