Does anyone have information on the areas missed in this report? Ed.
May 10, 2004
Eight districts, Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa and Ampara form the North-eastern Province. Following the signing of a ceasefire in February, 2002, many farmers who had been displaced by the conflict have returned to their former lands. Considerable improvements have been made in irrigation infrastructure, especially the minor tanks in the past two years, facilitating a rapid expansion in production.
Rainfall in September, October and November was up to or above acreage in the district, but no effective rains have fallen since early December. Under normal conditions, these tanks have to be filled three times to allow a full Maha season, but this year the failure of the rains from December caused considerable areas of rice crops to suffer water stress in the latter stages of growth. Those farmers who planted in October or November had sufficient water to complete the crop’s growth cycle, while those who planted in January suffered water shortages and even complete crop failure in some cases. Some farmers working a total of 888 ha availed themselves of a crop-insurance scheme, but the majority did not do so.
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| Painting by Ifthikar Cader of Namadamkulam Tank in drought off Mundal, on the western coast, that teems with waterfowl and other water birds |
Considerable investment has been made in the upgrading of minor irrigation infrastructure, mainly through the World Bank funded Northeast Irrigation and Agricultural Improvement Project (NEAIP) during the past five years. The shortage of water has prompted some farmers in Mannar to invest in tube wells, which provide irrigation water to 8-16 ha.
Total planted area in Mannar District was 10,626 ha, of which 9,198 ha was under major irrigation schemes. Of this area, a total of 1,620 ha was totally destroyed by lack of water, leaving 7,578 ha producing an average yield of 4.5t/ha. This relatively high yield is facilitated by the highly fertile soils in this district, which are particularly suited to paddy cultivation and the almost total predominance of major tank irrigation this year. Paddy grown using water from minor irrigation schemes, which depends largely on rainfall, was an almost total failure. The rain-fed planted area was 440 ha, mainly in the uncleared areas and of this only 150 ha survived to produce a crop estimated at 3t/ha. Following rainfall of 13.5, 166.2 and 354.8 mm in September, October and November, respectively, only 42.4 mm of rain fell in December, with no rain at all in January and February, 2004 in Mannar. Maha paddy production for Mannar District is estimated at 34,200 tonnes.
Cattle are in good condition, with plenty of grazing available, including the failed crops of rice.
Average rainfall in Vavuniya during the Maha season usually amounts to between 1,200-1,300mm, but this year total rainfall was only 784 mm, with no rain falling in the month of December. Farmers who planted early obtained a crop, while those who planted late largely suffered crop failure. The paddy area harvested in Vavuniya is estimated at 11,300 ha, an increase of 44.6 percent over the previous year, while the harvest is estimated at 35, 500 tonnes, compared to last year’s total of 27,000 tonnes. Formerly displaced farmers returning to their lands to cultivate account for the increase in harvested area. Good water management was reported to be a factor in reducing potential yield losses.
Rainfed crops in Vavuniya, especially the important black gram crop, was severely affected by the drought in December onwards and most crops failed. Of an estimated 3,000 ha of black gram planted in 2003, only 45 ha produced any crop. Other field crops such as cowpea, groundnut, maize and green gram also suffered major losses in the drought, leaving many farmers with no income.
In Jaffna, which depends solely on rainfed cultivation for paddy, over 4,000 ha was damaged by the drought, and this resulted in a 27.3 percent reduction in harvested area compared to the previous year and a 41.5 percent reduction in production. In Trincomalee and Batticaloa, harvested area was maintained above last year’s levels, while in Ampara, the Yala rains have already begun and may cause harvesting difficulties for the last of the Maha crop. Labour shortages for harvesting were reported to be a problem in Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara. Reports were received that farmers in Ampara planted less paddy this year after poor prices for paddy in the previous year. Overall, however, production levels in Batticaloa, Ampara and Trincomalee, at 124, 800 tonnes and 95,000 tonnes respectively, were well up to last year’s levels.
Prospects for the Yala crop are normal in Trincomalee, and good in Ampara and Batticaloa. However, in Vavuniya and Mannar, lack of water in tanks is expected to result in a substantial reduction in plantings.
http://www.reliefweb.int/library/documents/2004/fao-sri-10may.pdf
Originally posted May 24, 2004