Experts warn that the drought, which meteorologists predict will last from February to July and August next year, could cause a serious disruption to Sri Lanka’s food security. They say why this drought will cause more serious problems for Sri Lankans who are facing a serious economic crisis.
This was revealed in a high-level scientific session organized by the SAARCSFOOD Association of Sri Lanka on climate change and its possible impact on food security in Sri Lanka.
Nalin Munasinghe, assistant representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), said in his presentation that due to climate change, changes in cropping seasons, changes in the spread of pests and diseases and the risk of crop destruction may increase.
Sri Lanka is already vulnerable to climate change, with frequent extreme weather events such as floods, droughts and storms that can damage crops and disrupt supply chains. He emphasized the need for policy and adaptive measures to deal with them and ultimately ensure food security.
Clinical nutrition expert Dr. Renuka Jayatissa said in her comments that about one third of families in Sri Lanka are food insecure, and due to the economic crisis and climate change, it will be more difficult to address this situation.
World Food Program Sri Lanka Director Abdul Rahim Siddique, who attended the event as the chief guest, said that there are extreme weather events like storms and floods in Sri Lanka.
“If we don’t support communities to adapt to these changes, there will be more problems with insufficient food and an increase in malnutrition,” he said.
He said that a significant portion of Sri Lanka’s land is in the dry and intermediate zones.