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Efficient agricultural water use and management in paddy fields in Sri Lanka

National outlook

Year of publication 2022

Place of publication Rome, Italy ;

Pages 80 p.

Author Salman, M.; Suzuki, H.; Ahmad, W.; Giusti, S.; Ali, A.; Rathnayake, W.M.U.K.; Sirisena, D.N.; Senanayake, D.M.J.B.; Herath, W.M.T.M.; Meegasthenna, J.; Ponnampalam, Y.; Bandulasena, W.M.; De Silva, A.; Bandara, D.; Nandharathne, A.B.D.T.; Sooriyaarachchi, A.T.;

Publisher FAO ;

Product type Book (stand-alone)

ISBN 978-92-5-137147-3

Synopsis (short abstract) An increasing number of regions in the world are frequently facing water shortage, and water demand is likely to grow in the next 20–30 years due to intensified agriculture, population growth, urbanization and climate change. Future demand of water by all sectors will, thus, require as much as 25 to 40 percent of water to be re-allocated from lower to higher productivity and employment–oriented activities, particularly in water stressed regions. As such, these reallocations are likely to come from agriculture due to its high share of water use. In view of the projected rise in water demand in agriculture and non-agricultural sectors, appropriate actions that increase water use efficiency especially in irrigation are crucial to sustainably enhance agricultural production and productivity. In Sri Lanka, one-third of the rural population depends on agriculture. Rice is the national staple food which is cultivated twice a year on nearly one million hectares of land under a range of physical and environmental conditions. Currently, about 80 percent of paddy production comes from irrigated agriculture, while 20 percent is by rainfed area. Paddy cultivation is especially water demanding as it needs continues inundation of the field during most of the growing season. Despite being self-sufficient in paddy production, Sri Lanka has relatively low levels of water productivity and water use efficiency. Furthermore, its water and food security is extremely vulnerable to climate change.

Cite this content as:

Salman, M., Suzuki, H., Ahmad, W., Giusti, S., Ali, A., Rathnayake, W.M.U.K., Sirisena, D.N., Senanayake, D.M.J.B., Herath, W.M.T.M., Meegasthenna, J., Ponnampalam, Y., Bandulasena, W.M, De Silva, A., Bandara, D., Nandharathne, A.B.D.T., Sooriyaarachchi, A.T., Pathmarajah, S. 2022. Efficient agricultural water use and management in paddy fields in Sri Lanka – National outlook. Rome, FAO. 

https://doi.org/10.4060/cc2778en

Language English

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    Global water demand is likely to grow in the next 20 to 30 years due to agriculture intensification, population growth, urbanization, and climate change. In Sri Lanka, one-third of the rural population depends on agriculture. Rice is the national staple food which is cultivated twice a year on more than half a million hectares of land under a range of physical and environmental conditions. Despite being self-sufficient in rice production, Sri Lanka has low levels of water productivity and water use efficiency in paddies. Furthermore, its water and food security is extremely vulnerable to climate change. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has been active to increase the understanding of the status of water use efficiency and water productivity in Sri Lanka through the project “Efficient Agricultural Water Use and Management Enhancement in Paddy Fields”, funded by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF). The project objective is to identify limits and potentials of paddy rice production at national level. The project findings presented in this report are a basis for assisting the country with the evaluation of the status of water use efficiency and water productivity of paddy fields, providing technical and policy support to enhance water resources management in Sri Lanka.
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