Sri Lanka announced this month that its 2002-03 rice crop will hit a record high of 1.93 million metric tons, representing an increase in output of 15 percent over 2001-2002’s rice crop.
Why the huge increase in rice production? Largely because of a cease fire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers. Without having to worry about becoming victims in the war between the groups, farmers were able to put into cultivation rice paddys that had lain unused for 20 years.
According to Sri Lanka’s Agricultural Ministry, the total amount of land devoted to rice cultivation increased by 20 percent in just a single year. More than 100,000 hectares of farm land are believed to have been made available by the cessation of hostilities.
It’s amazing what can be accomplished when peace prevails.
Source:
‘Record rice harvest’ for Sri Lanka. The BBC, June 4, 2003.