Reference Date: 22-December-2025

Cyclone Storm Ditwah causes widespread devastation to agriculture, fisheries and rural livelihoods

Cyclone Storm Ditwah made landfall on 27 November 2025 and lingered over the country for nearly three days, bringing exceptionally heavy rainfall that triggered severe flooding and numerous landslides, resulting in widespread devastation nationwide. As of 16 December 2025, official reports confirm that more than 2.2 million people have been affected, representing about 10 percent of the country’s population. Extensive damage occurred to essential infrastructures, including housing, bridges, roads and irrigation systems. Floods have also destroyed agricultural land, standing crops, livestock and fisheries assets, and households’ food stocks.

The cyclone struck when farmers had just planted or were in the process of planting the 2026 Maha main season crop, which accounts for the bulk of the country’s annual agricultural production. According to preliminary official estimates, as of 15 December 2025, about 106 000 hectares of paddy, the country’s main staple food, were partially damaged or entirely lost, which represents about 20 percent of the total sowings to the 2026 main Maha season, with the highest losses registered in Puttalam, Kurunegala, Ampara, Anuradhapura, Batticaloa and Trincomalee districts. Significant losses were also reported for maize, vegetables, big onions and green gram, which are important cash crops. An estimated 227 000 farmers, mostly smallholder rice producers engaged in subsistence agriculture, were affected by the cyclone, incurring significant livelihood losses.

Regarding the livestock sector, official estimates indicate the loss of about 475 000 birds and nearly 50 000 other animals, including cattle, buffaloes, goats and swine. The fishery and aquaculture sectors also sustained extensive damage, with losses of fishing equipment, boats, fishponds, shrimp farms and infrastructures. According to the latest official estimates, total losses in the fishery sector are valued at between LKR 20.5 and LKR 21.5 billion (between about USD 66.4 and USD 69.7 million). These losses are expected to reduce the availability of sources of animal proteins in the affected areas and undermine key livelihood assets for fishing and livestock rearing households. For more information, see the recent GIEWS Update

Cereal production in 2025 estimated at above-average level

The 2025 cropping season finalized in September and aggregate cereal production is estimated at 5.4 million tonnes, about 10 percent above the five-year average. Production of paddy is officially estimated at an above-average level of 5 million tonnes, reflecting the large area planted, supported by strong domestic demand, while favourable weather conditions led to above-average yields. Similarly, the output of maize is estimated at an above-average level of 420 000 tonnes, mostly reflecting above‑average yields supported by optimal weather conditions.

Cereal import requirements forecast at above‑average level in 2025

Cereal import requirements, primarily wheat, in the 2025 calendar year are forecast at an above-average level of 1.6 million tonnes. The anticipated requirements reflect the strong domestic demand, driven by population growth as well as by the recovery of the tourism sector.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .