Fisheries Losses Top Rs 21 Bn After Cyclone Ditwah, Says FAO

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has warned of severe agricultural and livelihood disruptions in Sri Lanka following Cyclone Ditwah, which struck during the critical Maha planting season.

According to preliminary estimates, 106,000 hectares of paddy—the country’s staple crop—were partially damaged or completely destroyed, representing 20% of total sowings for the 2026 Maha season.

The worst-hit districts include Puttalam, Kurunegala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa, and Trincomalee.

Significant losses were also reported for maize, vegetables, big onions, and green gram, key cash crops for rural households.

FAO estimates that 227,000 farmers—mostly smallholder rice producers—have suffered major livelihood setbacks, threatening food security and income stability.

The livestock sector has been equally hard-hit, with 475,000 birds and nearly 50,000 animals, including cattle, buffaloes, goats, and swine, lost.

Meanwhile, the fisheries and aquaculture industries sustained extensive damage, including the destruction of boats, fishing gear, fishponds, and shrimp farms.

Losses in the fisheries sector alone are valued at Rs 20.5–21.5 billion (USD 66.4–69.7 million).

FAO warns that these shocks will reduce the availability of animal protein in affected areas and undermine key livelihood assets for farming and fishing communities.

The organization stresses the urgent need for targeted recovery measures, including emergency assistance, rehabilitation of agricultural infrastructure, and support for small-scale producers to restore food systems and rural economies.