Sri Lanka’s agricultural production for December 2024 and January 2025 has shown declines in paddy, fish, and coconut, while tea and rubber production increased. Notably, paddy production forecasts indicate a decrease in the Maha season, while an increase is expected in the Yala season. Despite challenges, positive trends in sugar and spice exports have been observed.
EconomyNext reports that Sri Lanka’s agricultural production has shown mixed results for December 2024 and January 2025, according to the Central Bank. Specifically, rice, fish, and coconut production experienced declines, while the outputs of tea and rubber have seen improvements. The forecast for paddy production in the 2024/2025 Maha season is estimated at 2.57 million metric tons, reflecting a 5.7% decrease compared to the previous season.
Additionally, the Yala season forecast indicates a positive outlook with an expected production of 2.02 million metric tons, marking an 11.4% increase from the last Yala season. Notably, coconut production has faced significant reductions of 33.1% in December and 32.3% in January. Fish production has also fallen by 12% in December, mainly due to reduced inland fishing activities.
On the other hand, domestic tea production rose by 9.6% in December and 14.6% in January, although global tea prices have continued to decline. Local rubber production witnessed a substantial increase of 32.4% in December but saw a drop in January. Domestic sugar production, conversely, surged by 21% year-on-year in 2024, attributed to enhanced global supply aided by favorable weather conditions in both Brazil and India.
Regarding export crops, prices for various items, including pepper, coffee, and cinnamon, increased in January 2025, while clove and ginger prices fell. Earnings from spice exports, particularly pepper and cloves, displayed improvement during this period. In summary, Sri Lanka’s agriculture is navigating growth in some sectors while facing challenges in others, demanding attention and strategy from stakeholders to support recovery efforts ahead.
In conclusion, Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector exhibited varied performance during December 2024 and January 2025. While rice, fish, and coconut production have declined significantly, tea and rubber sectors experienced notable growth. Moreover, developments in sugar and export crop prices highlight the dynamic conditions affecting local agriculture. Moving forward, targeted efforts will be essential to address the declines and support sustainable growth in key agricultural areas.
Original Source: economynext.com
