Fertiliser crisis of 2021: Signs of the times
Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector hit by a fertiliser shortage had varied impacts with some likely to spill over into this year and even in 2023. While paddy will have an immediate impact as harvest is reaped other sectors like tea, coconut and rubber will see the consequences subsequently depending on the application of fertiliser and its availability.
The government is certain there will be a drop in paddy and vegetable yields this Maha season a reason for which authorities had inserted for the first time forecasts for a 10 per cent and another column for a 30 per cent yield drop, “otherwise why will a government agency include this?” Peradeniya University Weed Science Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe queried adding that this “alerts the policy makers.”
During a field visit to Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu where the paddy harvesting first commenced, he noted that based on his observation and farmers’ opinion “I saw a drop of over 50 per cent.” Initially Prof. Marambe had noted that paddy is expected to yield a 25-30 per cent yield drop based on a research study carried out over an 11 year period by the Department of Agriculture.
He also pointed out that the yield drop is expected to be significant considering the government’s already approved importation of 300,000 MT of rice from Myanmar, sufficient for a period of one-and-a-half months, and the request from China for a further 2.4 million MT of rice that is more than 54 per cent of the annual requirement.
In the tea sector production had increased significantly compared to 2020 which Prof. Marambe noted was mainly attributed to the dramatic increase in production during the first five months of 2021. Impact of fertiliser on tea is imminent since it
is harvested every seven days, he said adding that
the lack of fertiliser was evident by end
October/November/December when production dropped drastically.
He also explained that a massive drop of 1.4 million kg of black tea was evident by June clearly indicating the real impact of the fertilizer shortage as a result of which the government allowed for Sulphate of Ammonia (SOA) to be imported. Total tea production in 2021 increased to 299.4 million kg compared to 278.8 million kg in 2020.
Planters Association Spokesman Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said that while the weather played a significant role in production the absence of chemical fertilisers in the market last year would be felt this year. “We can’t boast that we have done well,” he noted adding that national average on tea prices had come down inspite of a 30 per cent wage increase.
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