2012/13 Sri Lanka Rice Production Expected to Drop by 20 Percent due to Excessive Rainfall

The USDA estimates 2012/13 Sri Lanka rice area planted to reach 1.13 million hectares (mHa), down by nearly 6 percent from the previous forecast and down 10 percent from the previous year. This 10 percent decline can be attributed to flooding that impeded planting and destroyed plantings. The Sri Lankan Ministry of Agriculture forecast that 72,975 hectares (ha) of paddy rice has been affected by the flooding since November and December.

Since the end of December 2012 roughly 91 percent of the target Maha rice area (814,058 ha) was planted. The districts of Batticalo, Trincomalee, and Vavuniya where heavily damaged from flooding and heavy rains.

Satellite imagery shows significant flooding in the northwest districts.

Production is forecast to reach 2.65 million metric tons (mmt) milled or 3.8 mmt rough production, nearly 20 percent below the previous year. This 20 percent reduction is attributed to the floods but also the drought conditions that impacted the Yaha crop, which is planted in May and harvested in December. Rice is grown year around in Sri Lanka. For the 2012/13 total rice production, the USDA combines the 2012/13 Yala crop and the 2012/13 Maha crop for the total estimate. The Yala crop is planted in May/June and harvested in November/December. The Maha crop which accounts for 64 percent of total production, is planted in November/December and harvested in March/April. (For more information, contact Arnella Trent 202-720-0881.)

Visit Crop Explorer http://www.pecad.fas.usda.gov/cropexplorer

Current USDA area and production estimates for grains and other agricultural commodities are available on IPAD's Agricultural Production page or at PSD Online.