ABSTRACT
Cultivated rice is still the prime mover of the economy of Sri Lanka. The importance of the crop in the national economy dwindles, as the share of the agricultural sector in national income declines concurrently with faster growth of non-farm income. Rice, as the single most important crop, occupies 34% of the total cultivated area in Sri Lanka and contributes to approximately 5% of the gross domestic product (GDP). On average, 560,000 ha are cultivated during maha (main cultivating season — September to February, northeast monsoon) and 310,000 ha during yala (minor cultivating season — April to August, southwest monsoon). About 1.8 million farm families are engaged in paddy cultivation islandwide. Sri Lanka currently produces 2.7 million tons of rough rice annually and satisfies around 95% of the domestic requirement. Rice provides 45% of the total calories and 40% of the total protein requirement of an average Sri Lankan. The per capita consumption of rice fluctuates around 100 kg per year depending on the price of rice, bread, and wheat flour. It is projected that the demand for rice will increase at 1.1% per year. To meet this requirement, rice production should grow at the rate of 2.9% per year.
