Is Sri Lanka self-sufficient?

Dear All,
This information i have gathered from wikipedia...........
Agriculture is the most important sector of the Sri Lankan economy. Even though its contribution to the gross domestic product declined substantially during the past 3 decades (from 30 percent in 1970 to 21 percent in 2000), it is the most important source of employment for the majority of the Sri Lankan workforce. Approximately 38 percent of the total labor force was engaged in agriculture in 1999. In the subsistence sector, rice is the main crop and farming rice is the most important economic activity for the majority of the people living in rural areas. During the last 5 decades the rice sector grew rapidly and output more than tripled, reaching the highest ever output of 2.9 million metric tons in 1999. Increases in the area under cultivation, and improved productivity due to the modernization of agriculture are the main reasons for an increase in production. The rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's extensive ancient irrigation network and massive new investment in construction and maintenance of irrigation infrastructure led to a large increase in the area under rice cultivation. Between 1960-2000, the area used to grow rice increased 6 times to 546,249 hectares. The modernization of farming methods, such as the use of high-yielding seeds, tractors, and chemical fertilizers also led to increased productivity in the rice sector. Between 1960-1999, rice yield per hectare doubled from 1,877 kilograms to 3,672 kilograms. In addition to rice, various other food crops are produced for local consumption. They include yams, pulses, grains, vegetables, and fruits. Most of these crops are cultivated in family gardens, except for potatoes and sugar. Sugar cane is cultivated in the dry zone, and Sri Lanka produces only 15 percent of what it consumes domestically.

The major plantation crops of tea, rubber, and coconuts continue to figure prominently in the economy of Sri Lanka; however, the contribution of these commercial crops to gross domestic product declined from 11.5 percent in 1970 to 5 percent in 2000. Tea, the prominent crop of the plantation sector, grows in many parts of the wet zone, and in particular in the central hill country. Sri Lanka is famous for its high quality black tea, and is the largest supplier in the world. In 1999, 269.3 million kilograms of tea (95 percent of total tea production) was exported, earning US$621 million in foreign exchange. The United Kingdom, Russia, and the Middle East are the major export markets.

The second major commercial crop is rubber, growing in the ridge and valley country of the wet zone interior. Of 159,000 hectares under cultivation, about 80 percent was being tapped (harvested) and in 1999, 96.6 million kilograms of rubber were produced. A sizable proportion of rubber production is used in the domestic manufacturing sector (56 percent in 1999) and the remainder is exported. In 1999 export earnings amounted to US$33 million. China is traditionally the major buyer of Sri Lankan rubber. The performance of this sector has been subject to instability due to unfavorable movements in world prices. Competition from synthetic rubber producers has caused rubber prices to drop. However, with rising petroleum prices (the major ingredient for synthetic rubber) there is a chance for world rubber prices to improve.

The third commercial crop, coconuts, is grown mainly in the hinterland of the western seaboard. Production in 1999 accounted for 2,828 million nuts, the highest output since 1986. Coconut (mainly coconut milk) is a major ingredient used in food preparation in Sri Lanka, and nearly 65 percent of the output is consumed locally. The remainder is exported in the form of kernel products (desiccated coconut, coconut oil, copra), coconut cream, and coconut milk powder. In 1999, kernel products generated US$129 million in foreign exchange.

Forestry and fishing are less important components of the economy. Forests in the dry zone were cleared for settlement and agriculture early on. Unsustainable agricultural practices such as chena cultivation and logging resulted in land degradation and a reduction in the size of forest reserves. The country has abundant fishing resources, with an exclusive economic zone covering over 500,000 square kilometers (193,050 miles), a coastline of about 1,700 kilometers (1,056 miles), and a massive network of inland water reservoirs suitable for fish farming. However, this potential has not yet been exploited. Most marine fishing is concentrated in coastal areas, which account for about 12 percent of the exclusive economic zone. Total fish production in 1999 was estimated at 280 thousand metric tons, and the contribution of this activity to gross domestic product was about 3 percent in 1999. Fishing is a traditional livelihood for people living in coastal areas: in 1999 about 145,000 people were employed in fishing activities. A slow-growing sector, fish production increased at an annual average of only about 3 percent between 1992 and 1999. Poor production is mainly due to a lack of technical knowledge and equipment.

The livestock sector in Sri Lanka is small, consisting mainly of the dairy and the poultry subsections. Unlike in the United States, where dairy production takes place on large farms, in Sri Lanka dairy farming is a small-scale domestic activity. Total milk production in 1999 accounted for 342 million liters, sufficient only to meet about one-fourth of local needs. The remainder is imported in the form of powdered milk (in 1999, 54,000 metric tons of milk powder was imported). An important development in the livestock sector was the rapid increase in the poultry production. In 1999 approximately 57 million metric tons of poultry meat was produced, increasingly becoming a common source of animal protein in Sri Lanka.


Read more: http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/econ … z2zRP0u89e

Regards,
Anil

Thanks Anil,
Lots of good information there. 

One important crop for political stability in times of crisis is the main staple of the country which I assume is rice. I looked this up separately and found this report that says Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in rice producton which is a good thing.
The Sunday Times Economic Analysis

El_Jost wrote:

That is, can the country produce a large portion of the food it consumes?
Self-sufficiency is important for anyone who seeks a "bolt-hole" in times of extreme crisis.

Its not sufficient! 

Then suggest us Mal how it will become self sufficient..........

regards,
anil

mal wrote:

El_Jost wrote:

That is, can the country produce a large portion of the food it consumes?
Self-sufficiency is important for anyone who seeks a "bolt-hole" in times of extreme crisis.

Its not sufficient! 

I agree to an extent. I too do not think Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in the strict sense.

The country does produce a lot of rice, but I believe a large part of it gets exported. Shortfall in meeting local demand is met by importing - which would make sense if your cost of importing was less than earnings made by exporting (but I fear not).

Whilst local industry does produce other necessities, the other drain on the economy is the reliance on imported goods. For some reason, people prefer imported brands to local alternatives.

aryavrat wrote:

Then suggest us Mal how it will become self sufficient..........

regards,
anil

Not an easy question to answer Anil.
Too many moving parts in the country presently. Whilst the government is stable and powerful, this very stability and power has led the government to think they can get away with anything. You too come from a country in this part of the world. I am sure you know "how things work". So the less said the better

(Please let me go home and answer this... time to go now )

Great answers Farhaz! 

But first of all congratulations on your yellow suitcases turning blue. 

El_Jost wrote:

Great answers Farhaz! 

But first of all congratulations on your yellow suitcases turning blue. 

So they have. I just observed it    Silly me LoL 

Thanks a lot for the compliments, El_Jost.

aryavrat wrote:

Then suggest us Mal how it will become self sufficient..........

regards,
anil

Yes it is not self-sufficient yet and only rice production, tea, rubber or coconut production can not make it a self-sufficient country.
First I will say why it isnt self-sufficient!
30 years of civil war is the main reason. Whatever the money you had, you had to spent on security.
Thousands of lives, property were destroyed. Constructing property roads, bridges in new is not a simple thing. So still we are developing.

To be self-sufficient you can do many things but I have no power and authority may not read or take my opinions!

Sri Lanka is a country with natural beauty!! Waterfalls, agricultural lands, paddy fields, thick rain forests, lakes, wildlife, nice beaches, tea estates in mountain area with scenic views and so much of historical places. Many people are  visiting here to see that natural beauty. . Like in other South East Asian countries, I think man-made beauty is also a must. Tourism is the main thing  to be developed. But we need to construct more highways for the access into tourist destinations. (Specially we have limited highways tho our country roads are carpeted or concreted by about 75% now.)  Some cities are now being beautified but not all.
More business opportunities for foreigners must be opened. And the legal procedures for visa and taxes must be eased for the people who are coming here for business purpose.
Next thing most needed is the .modernization. Attractive buildings, hotels must be built. Transportation facilities must be comfortable and developed (Ex. sky trains, and city busses) Developments cities to the conditions of metropolitan cities, opening market for local and bucolic products and garments (Tho we have so many garment factories our products can not be found in our markets) are some of good points to be considered.
But I have to add you Anil, very happily, many of these things are under considered or started... so in a year or two... when you will arrive in Sri Lanka... this will be a total different country!

You know mal why i asked this question to you is to know whether you have trust on your own country or not...........remember Rome has not built in a day........so slowly everything will be better......As you mentioned even these visions and talking about these things will also lead into a new revolution of development in any country........definetly i will come and see all the natural beauty of Sri Lanka..........

Regards,
Anil

Farhaz wrote:

aryavrat wrote:

Then suggest us Mal how it will become self sufficient..........

regards,
anil

Not an easy question to answer Anil.
Too many moving parts in the country presently. Whilst the government is stable and powerful, this very stability and power has led the government to think they can get away with anything. You too come from a country in this part of the world. I am sure you know "how things work". So the less said the better

You are right Brother......Its better less to say .........but my idea was to see the vision of the people of Sri Lanka what they thought and Mal has won that .......she defines it in a very good way........Hope very soon All the Sri Lankans will have a much much better slife than today what they have................

Regards,
Anil

aryavrat wrote:

You know mal why i asked this question to you is to know whether you have trust on your own country or not...........remember Rome has not built in a day........so slowly everything will be better......As you mentioned even these visions and talking about these things will also lead into a new revolution of development in any country........definetly i will come and see all the natural beauty of Sri Lanka..........

Regards,
Anil

I trust my own country. It is a must some one do before he should go as an expat in another country. Today I came to know about some plans of building an artificial island closer to Hambanthota area- as a shopping paradise! You have to go there on a boat for shopping....! Nice idea

Nice idea.......do it in paper and produce it to some financers or investors who want to invest in this projects.......All the Best........

Regards,
Anil

aryavrat wrote:

Nice idea.......do it in paper and produce it to some financers or investors who want to invest in this projects.......All the Best........

Regards,
Anil

Yeah after they will finish constructing , quotations will be called for selling shops and will let you know!

You are pulling me.........

aryavrat wrote:

You are pulling me.........

May be   but after it will be finished we may not want to go to Thailand or India for shopping!

Ladies wishes are gentlemen's duty to performs.....................

aryavrat wrote:

Ladies wishes are gentlemen's duty to performs.....................

Its ok whatever the topic.
These days our government is speaking about many projects to develop the country. 

Try to grab atleast one so that we can work together...............

aryavrat wrote:

Try to grab atleast one so that we can work together...............

I am not after money, I have a job to survive