The impacts of the COVID-19 shock on sustainability and farmer livelihoods in Sri Lanka

Sanduni Rathnayake; David Gray; Janet Reid; Thiagarajah Ramilan

doi:10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100131

The impacts of the COVID-19 shock on sustainability and farmer livelihoods in Sri Lanka

Curr Res Environ Sustain. 2022:4:100131. doi: 10.1016/j.crsust.2022.100131. Epub 2022 Feb 18.

Authors

Sanduni Rathnayake^{1

2}, David Gray¹, Janet Reid¹, Thiagarajah Ramilan¹

Affiliations

¹ School of Agriculture and Environment, College of Sciences, Massey University, Private Bag 11 222, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand.
² Department of Agricultural Extension, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri Lanka.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its handling in Sri Lanka has affected vegetable farmers in numerous ways and these impacts will constrain the country's move towards sustainable development. A field level study with vegetable farmers and key informants was carried out using exploratory research to understand, describe and analyze the impact of COVID-19 on the livelihoods of vegetable farmers and its relevance in achieving SDG 1. Data were supplemented by an extensive literature review. The analysis showed that the pandemic's impact on vegetable farmers in Sri Lanka is multidimensional and will increase vulnerability among vegetable farmers, for the long run. Adapting alternative inputs and marketing strategies, provision of immediate financial support, promoting innovative technology and service provision, and implementing intervention strategies tailored to farmer heterogeneity will improve farmer livelihoods and the prosperity of the sector.

Keywords: COVID-19; Farmer livelihoods; Shock; Sri Lanka; Sustainability.