Sri Lanka Agri Crisis: Rice & Coconut Output Falls, Prices Soar

22-Mar-2025 10:40 AM

Sri Lanka Agri Crisis: Rice & Coconut Output Falls, Prices Soar
★ From September 2024 to March 2025, Sri Lanka’s paddy production was 2.57 million tonnes—down 5.7% compared to the previous season, leading to a rice shortage in retail markets.
★ Supermarkets have imposed a limit of 3 kg of rice per customer. Government price control measures have proven ineffective.
★ Coconut production has also been hit, with declines of 33.1% in December 2024 and 32.2% in January 2025. Coconut prices have surged to LKR 250–300 per nut (approx. USD 0.85–1.00).
★ In January 2025, prices of major export crops such as black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, cinnamon, and turmeric increased, while clove and ginger prices declined.