Sri Lanka food security
Image: World Vision Lanka
In early 2022, Sri Lanka was confronted with an unprecedented multi-dimensional crisis, the worst since the country’s independence in 1948. With an already vulnerable economy still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the country was hit by inflation, shortages of many essential goods, a reduction in agricultural production over several harvest seasons and rapidly rising food prices.
Households were spending nearly 82% of their income on food in July 2022. It was estimated that 6.3 million people were food insecure, with 76% relying on coping strategies like eating cheaper and less nutritious food, limiting portion sizes, or reducing the number of meals per day.
Child nutrition has been particularly impacted, with flow on effects to schooling – many children either do not bring food to school, or do not attend. Sri Lanka has the second-highest rate of acute malnutrition among children under 5 in South Asia and at least 17% of children are suffering from chronic wasting, a disease that carries a high risk of death.
Further exacerbating the food security and economic crisis, agricultural livelihoods were impacted by high production costs and a drastic shortage of fertilizer. Farmers have been unable to plant as much as they normally would, increasing dependence on costly imported foods.
The AHP response
Image: World Vision Lanka
As part of a broader $25 million package of support from the Australian Government, the Australian Humanitarian Partnership will support food security in some of Sri Lanka’s most vulnerable provinces.
World Vision Australia will lead the AUD $3.3 million AHP response with World Vision Lanka, and local partner NGO Sarvodaya.
The 12-month response will focus on food security and nutrition needs in Uva and North Central provinces.
Child and family nutrition will be a priority, with direct interventions for malnourished children under 5, along with nutrition education for families, meal programs in pre-schools and support for home gardens.
The project also aims to increase agricultural and dairy production to improve food availability and livelihoods, with a particular focus on opportunities for women and people with disabilities.