Some Agroclimatological Aspects of Rice Production in Sri Lanka

Abstract

This paper analyzes the relationships between climatic factors and rice production in Sri Lanka. Firstly, it is shown that trend in rice production revealed a gradual increase with less interannual variability up to 1950 and thereafter it showed a steady increase with greater interannual variability. Secondly, climatic factors required for the rice cultivation are discussed, in which rainfall has been found as the foremost factor controlling the cultivation system. Thirdly, relationships between sown and harvested acreage, yield and rainfall are given based on correlation and regression analyses. Fourthly, the importance of irrigation is discussed emphasizing on the Dry Zone. At last, problems in the present rice cultivation are discussed and some suggestions are given to improve the rice culti-vation and to reduce the crop losses in drought-prone areas of the country from an agroclimatic perspective.