There has been much said and reported about food insecurity in Sri Lanka over the last five years, the combined effects of global disruptions, Covid-19 and the ongoing economic crisis exacerbated a growing issue, which today is a matter which needs to be addressed with a whole of Government approach, and urgently. Even though the food security crisis of 2022 and 2023 may seem distant today, the realities of food insecurity which is continuing has been echoed by State and non-state actors alike. The United Nations, their many arms and institutions including the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the UNDP have continued to shine the spotlight on this issue.
The ongoing issues about commodities prices and high cost of living continues to be impacted by sporadic shortages, both created and natural with shortages of some staples such as rice remaining an ongoing issue. With many Sri Lankans today, pushed below the poverty line, the impact of food insecurity disproportionately impacts the multiple vulnerable communities in the island.
According to a recent report compiled by the Food-first Information and Action Network (FIAN) Sri Lanka, which had conducted a six-month thorough baseline assessment to assess the current household food insecurity and dietary patterns across ten selected districts in Sri Lanka, has found that a significant portion of households’ experience moderate to severe food insecurity. “Findings from the study revealed that households reported a lower Food Consumption Score (FCS) compared to the national average. A significant portion of households’ experience moderate to severe food insecurity, with a large share of household expenses allocated to food purchases. Many families rely on borrowing money to meet their food needs. The findings reflected the critical gaps in food rights and food security aggravated by the ongoing economic and political instability in Sri Lanka. Vulnerable groups were found to be the most affected by these issues, with limited reception of some infrastructure facilities and public services,” the FIAN report said. The survey collected sample data from 20 districts representing urban, rural and estate sectors. The report has sought to find a baseline assessment intended of: Access food rights, security, and food consumption in selected districts, identify key food sovereignty issues and potential rights violations, prioritise support for vulnerable groups through data-driven insights, share knowledge to raise awareness and influence policy reforms, and to highlight policy gaps to improve service delivery in local governance and health sectors. The findings point to many households surveyed reporting a lower Food Consumption Score (FCS) compared to the national average. Findings include: Households experienced a decrease in income amidst soaring inflation, households invest more on foods than all other expenditures, more than half of households did not believe the stability of their income sources, most of surveyed households were found to purchase food items frequently in small quantities, many were contentedly borrowing money to meet their food needs, diversified nutritious diets are deteriorating, amongst others.
The FIAN report indicates that the data uncovered the need for priority support for vulnerable groups, awareness and education, potential reformation of policies, and regulations that could strengthen the delivery of better food and health services, especially, the local government service provisions. Recommendations from the assessment include expanding income-generating activities, enhancing social safety nets, and promoting cooperative systems to stabilise household incomes and improve food security. The report also highlights the importance of community-based nutrition education and sustainable agricultural practices. Additionally, the study calls for revitalising traditional practices like the Kandyan home garden model and leveraging underutilised food plants to enhance biodiversity and food diversity.
The report also highlights the need for a collaborative approach involving government agencies, civil society organisations (CSOs), and local communities to enhance food access, reduce nutritional deficiencies, and establish sustainable, equitable food systems. “Adapting lessons from successful global models to the Sri Lankan context can help strengthen food security initiatives. This assessment, supported by the Bolstering Civil Society (BCS) Activity, aims to empower CSOs and citizens to advocate for democratic values and policy reforms. It will inform advocacy efforts, guide future interventions, and support policy development to address gaps in Sri Lanka's food system.”
The food security issue can have wide ranging and long-term impacts which Sri Lanka can ill afford to face, as such the Government would be prudent to list the issue as a policy priority and act diligently and urgently to rectify the core contributing issues.