According to reports from the Department of Population and Statistics, the country has experienced a significant decline in potato and onion production over the past few years, said Professor Wasantha Athukorala, Director of the Department of Humanities and Statistics at the University of Peradeniya.
The data reveals that Sri Lanka’s potato production, which stood at 101,642 metric tons in 2019, has steadily declined over the years. By 2022, production had dropped to 47,614 metric tons, and by 2023, it further decreased to 40,749 metric tons. This marks an alarming 60% reduction in potato production within a five-year period from 2019 to 2023.
Similarly, the country’s onion production has suffered a severe downturn. In 2014, the total onion production was recorded at 98,900 metric tons. However, by 2020, it had dropped significantly to 30,481 metric tons, and by 2023, projections indicate a further decline to just 6,961 metric tons. This represents a staggering loss of approximately 91,939 metric tons of onion production since 2014.
The decline is also evident in red onion production. In 2019, red onion production stood at 58,242 metric tons. By 2023, this figure had decreased by 15% to 49,351 metric tons.
Due to this sharp decline in local production, the country has been compelled to rely more on imports. For instance, in 2014, Sri Lanka imported 150,534 metric tons of green onions. By 2022, this number had surged to 263,781 metric tons, highlighting the growing dependency on foreign imports.
Professor Athukorala further noted that the increased importation of such food items not only drains a significant amount of foreign exchange but also exposes local consumers to lower-quality food products. He emphasized the urgent need to address this issue to safeguard the country’s agricultural sustainability and food security.
