What is it about?
Rice is vital for Sri Lanka’s food security, but climate change is bringing more droughts and floods. This FAO study surveyed 301 smallholder farmers and tested new water- and soil-management methods. It found that many farmers underestimate climate risks and prefer simple, low-cost solutions. Pilot projects showed higher yields, lower water use, and profits up to 400% higher. The report calls for region-specific policies, better climate information, and training to support “multifunctional” rice systems that provide food, water storage, and biodiversity. Smarter water management can make Sri Lanka’s rice farming both sustainable and climate-resilient.
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Why is it important?
This is the first comprehensive, evidence-based study to link farmers’ climate perceptions, water management behaviour, and policy frameworks across Sri Lanka’s main rice-growing zones. It arrives at a critical time, as the country faces intensifying droughts, floods, and food security challenges. By combining social science and field trials, the study shows how simple, farmer-led innovations can transform productivity and resilience. Its insights can directly inform climate-smart policies that protect both livelihoods and ecosystems — making it valuable beyond Sri Lanka.
Perspectives
What struck me most while working on this project was how much knowledge farmers already hold about their land — and how crucial it is to listen to them. Many solutions to water scarcity are not purely technological; they depend on trust, dialogue, and shared learning. Seeing farmers achieve better yields and water savings through small, practical changes reminded me that resilience starts locally. This research shows that empowering smallholders can drive national progress toward sustainable and climate-smart agriculture.
Professor Imre Fertő
Eotvos Lorand Tudomanyegyetem
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Evidence-based analysis for integrating improved and multifunctional paddy water management into policy frameworks in Sri Lanka, September 2025, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO),
DOI: 10.4060/cd6862en.
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