On 30 August 2021, Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajpaksa declared an economic emergency. The decision was taken to curb hoarding of essential items and to control inflation since the country is faced with a shortage of food items and a steep rise in prices of essential commodities.

In April, President Rajapaksa announced that only organic farming would be allowed in Sri Lanka, aiming to become the first country to do so. On 27 April, the Sri Lankan Cabinet banned the import of over 600 items, including chemical fertilisers and foods like oats, soya milk, dairy goods and apple juice. In his address to pre-summit of the United Nations Food System Summit held on 26-28 July 2021, Rajapaksa cited widespread chronic health problems and ecological destruction in the country due to agrochemicals as reasons for the ban.

There are two cultivation seasons in the country — yala (April-May to August-September) and maha (September-October to February-March). Most Sri Lankan farmers have already used chemical fertilisers provided by the government in the current yala season. The yield loss, if any, after the harvesting of this yala season, will be related to chemical fertiliser-based farming and has nothing to do with organic, said to Down To Earth Suresh Del Mel, member of Sri Lanka presidential task force on organic farming. The crisis is linked with economic factors leading to depleting foreign reserve and restrictions on the import of food items. Sri Lanka's decision to move to organic farming is not behind its food shortage given that a majority of the farmers have not even started the transition process. 

A smooth transition from chemical-based farming to organic or natural farming needs a well-thought roadmap and transition plan. 

Photo credits: ©Down To Earth