Keeri Samba shortage, low cultivation trends

Sri Lanka is currently experiencing a shortage in keeri samba a key rice variety as a result of low cultivation of the crop despite the increased demand for it at high prices in the local market.

At present authorities are looking at importing at least 50,000 metric tonnes of rice of similar varieties from other countries in the region, Peradeniya University Crop Science Snr. Prof. Buddhi Marambe told the Business Times.

It is the lower extent of cultivation that has led to the shortage of this particularly high in demand variety of rice in the local market, he noted.

This was experienced in 2019 as well, it was pointed out when only about 48 per cent of farmers opted to cultivate this variety of rice.

Cultivation of this variety is said to generate low yields of only about 58-61 kg of rice per 100 kg of paddy as a result of which the return on income is lower to the farmer. This has led to most farmers opting to cultivate other varieties as opposed to the keeri samba type.

Moreover, it was noted that the shortage was also possibly brought on due to farmers and millers hoarding these stocks to ensure that they can sell it at high prices.

The Maha season is expected to generate increased cultivation as farmers commenced cultivation according to the rules since the authorities requested them to start off when the rains come in. This has led them to being dependent on the rains for their water and would help to conserve the rain water in the reservoirs for this year when the severe rain pattern is expected to cease as per the recommendation of the Meteorology Department, Prof. Marambe said.

In the meantime, the government is expected to bring in to Parliament this year the new agricultural policies drafted into the National Agricultural Development Act, he said.