Impacts of Floods on the Agriculture Sector: A Case Study of Porathivu Pattu Division in The East Coastal Batticaloa District of Sri Lanka

Abstract

Flood is the most common disaster in Sri Lanka. The Batticaloa District is one of the flood-prone areas in the country and it is also one of the richest districts in terms of paddy and highland crop cultivation, fishing and cattle farming. The current research is focused on the Batticaloa District as a whole and presents a case study on Porathivu Pattu Divisional Secretariat Division (DSD). The objectives of this study were to examine the agricultural impacts of floods in the Batticaloa District during the 2010/2011, identify the flood risk areas of Porathivu Pattu DSD, and to examine the perceptions of agriculture-flood vulnerable communities. Based on the farmers' perceptions, the flood level has gradually increased. A total of 44,179 agricultural farmers faced huge damages and losses due to 2010/2011 flood in 14 Divisional Secretariats. About 143,560 acres of paddy were completely affected by flood. The total economic losses of food grains, highland crops and fruit crops were Rs.73.86 million, Rs. 65.54 million and Rs. 13.78 million, respectively in the Batticaloa District. A total of 198,508 livestock deaths have been recorded, and 22406 fishermen and 11282 Kg fish products were affected. The total economic loss of fisheries activities was Rs. 110.88 million. Flood-prone area of the Porathivu Pattu DSD has been classified into five risk areas. The agricultural community suggested various flood control measures based on their experiences. Unless effective flood mitigation measures are implemented, the Batticaloa District might move to a backward position on agriculture sector and the community.