Iran war drops food security bombshell on Sri Lanka
As shipments get cancelled and prices surge there is serious concern whether fertiliser stocks already ordered will ever make it in time for the Yala season. Already the Maha season has faced a 10 per cent drop in yields and the country is running without a food security plan.
“We don’t have a food security plan for Sri Lanka at the moment,” Peradeniya University Crop Science Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe told the Sunday Times Business.
In the midst of the current war the availability of fuel for farmers is crucial with the harvesting season for Maha and land preparation for Yala season (as some areas have already started) demands fuel.
Unlike in the past when international conflicts occurred this time availability of oil and gas has become a key concern, Prof. Marambe said. In Sri Lanka currently the biggest issue is the inadequate quantities of input supplies of not only fuel but also fertiliser and hybrid seeds.
From the expected Maha yield Sri Lanka will run short of 10 per cent, Prof. Marambe said noting that the total area of paddy affected by the Ditwah cyclone was 85,000 hectares (H) out of which 60,000 H was totally damaged and of this extent only 50 per cent was re-cultivated.
Currently Sri Lanka has an adequate stock of phosphorous and potassium beyond the requirement for paddy cultivation, Prof. Marambe said.
However, the main concern is the availability of urea and though Sri Lanka has already placed orders for 67,000 metric tonnes (MT) of urea more than 50 per cent got cancelled due to increasing prices and transport cost. Urea prices surged from US$350 per MT to $710 per MT.
Sri Lanka requires around 98,000 MT of urea for paddy cultivation; 13,000 MT for maize; 42,000 MT for fruits and vegetables and another 62,000 MT for tea, rubber and coconut and other crops.
Prof. Marambe said Sri Lanka is currently not in a good situation. Currently local urea prices are at Rs.9500 per 50 kg bag. The Government is said to be in discussion with several countries to secure stocks of fertiliser but the surging prices has become a key concern.
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