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Climate change and food security: a Sri Lankan perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Mohamed Esham

    (Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka)

  • Brent Jacobs

    (University of Technology Sydney)

  • Hewage Sunith Rohitha Rosairo

    (Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka)

  • Balde Boubacar Siddighi

    (The University of Tokyo)

Abstract

There is growing concern in Sri Lanka over the impact of climate change, variability and extreme weather events on food production, food security and livelihoods. The link between climate change and food security has been mostly explored in relation to impacts on crop production or food availability aspects of food security, with little focus on other key dimensions, namely food access and food utilization. This review, based on available literature, adopted a food system approach to gain a wider perspective on food security issues in Sri Lanka. It points to several climate-induced issues posing challenges for food security. These issues include declining agriculture productivity, food loss along supply chains, low livelihood resilience of the rural poor and prevalence of high levels of undernourishment and child malnutrition. Our review suggests that achieving food security necessitates action beyond building climate resilient food production systems to a holistic approach that is able to ensure climate resilience of the entire food system while addressing nutritional concerns arising from impacts of climate change. Therefore, there is a pressing need to work towards a climate-smart agriculture system that will address all dimensions of food security. With the exception of productivity of a few crop species, our review demonstrates the dearth of research into climate change impacts on Sri Lanka’s food system. Further research is required to understand how changes in climate may affect other components of the food system including productivity of a wider range of food crops, livestock and fisheries, and shed light on the causal pathways of climate-induced nutritional insecurity.

Suggested Citation

  • Mohamed Esham & Brent Jacobs & Hewage Sunith Rohitha Rosairo & Balde Boubacar Siddighi, 2018. "Climate change and food security: a Sri Lankan perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(3), pages 1017-1036, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:20:y:2018:i:3:d:10.1007_s10668-017-9945-5
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-017-9945-5
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Dana Cordell & Elsa Dominish & Mohamed Esham & Brent Jacobs & Madhuri Nanda, 2021. "Adapting food systems to the twin challenges of phosphorus and climate vulnerability: the case of Sri Lanka," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(2), pages 477-492, April.
    3. Chamila Kumari Chandrasiri & Takuji W. Tsusaka & Tien D. N. Ho & Farhad Zulfiqar & Avishek Datta, 2023. "Impacts of climate change on paddy yields in different climatic zones of Sri Lanka: a panel data approach," Asia-Pacific Journal of Regional Science, Springer, vol. 7(2), pages 455-489, June.
    4. Mahinda Senevi Gunaratne & R. B. Radin Firdaus & Shamila Indika Rathnasooriya, 2021. "Climate change and food security in Sri Lanka: towards food sovereignty," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 8(1), pages 1-14, December.
    5. Wickramasinghe, M.R.C.P. & Dayawansa, N.D.K. & Jayasiri, M.M.J.G.C.N. & De Silva, Ranjith Premalal, 2023. "A study on external pressures of an ancient irrigation cascade system in Sri Lanka," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    6. Yan Zhang & Xiaoyong Lu, 2022. "A Comprehensive Evaluation of Food Security in China and Its Obstacle Factors," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-17, December.
    7. Md Mofakkarul Islam & Md Abdullah Mamun, 2020. "Beyond the risks to food availability – linking climatic hazard vulnerability with the food access of delta-dwelling households," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 12(1), pages 37-58, February.

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