Cyclone Damage Threatens Vegetable Supply, Prices

Sri Lanka’s vegetable cultivation sector is under growing strain after the recent cyclone damaged an estimated 7,000 to 8,000 hectares of vegetable-growing land, according to data compiled by the Department of Agriculture and the FAO. The worst-affected districts include Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Anuradhapura, Kurunegala, Trincomalee, and Batticaloa.

Agricultural officials warn that the losses could lead to short-term supply shortages and price increases, as vegetables have shorter cultivation cycles and limited buffer stocks. Satellite data shows flood inundation of up to 16 percent in several districts, highlighting the scale of the disruption.

The crisis is compounded by high rural indebtedness, with many farmers unable to repay loans taken for the Maha season. Experts urge the government to provide emergency seeds, restore irrigation systems, and offer debt relief to enable rapid re-cultivation and stabilize food supplies in the coming months.

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