Climate change affecting food production

Priyanka KURUGALA

Climate changes have affected food production, thus, resulting in one in seven people in the world going to bed in hunger each night. Rising food prices too contribute to this.

This was revealed at Oxfam's Global Campaign on Food Justice, in Sri Lanka, which was held at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute recently.

'Currently the demand has increased for animal food. Climate change is one reason for the present food crises, said Deputy Director (Research) of Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute L P Ratnasena. 'Certain countries have decided to reduce their food production and do away with small-scale farming. This is leading the world towards a food crisis,' he said.

Asian countries lack proper distribution systems. But in Vietnam there is a good food distribution system. Farmers make good money through their harvests. National Centre for Advanced Studies director RMK Ratnayake said, a number of changes have been witnessed in society and also in the agricultural field of our country. Therefore Sri Lankans are unable to get most of the nutrition from Sri Lankan food.

Sri Lankans are addicted to bread. There is sea around the country. However people eat canned fish coming from Chile which is on the other end of the world. Dhal is also not typical to us but is a favourite with our people, he said.

On the other hand food such as Kurakkan which is grown easily on our soil is also imported. It's time to change this system, he said.

Addressing the seminar, Senior Agriculture Economist Terrence Abesekere said, a large number of farmers in this country are giving up agriculture and seeking jobs in the government and private sector.