UN agencies classify Sri Lanka as ‘highly water stressed

UN agencies have classified Sri Lanka as ‘highly water stressed’ with a 90.8% indicator, reflecting the significant pressure from human activities on its freshwater resources and their sustainability, a joint media release from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP) said recently.

The classification had been done in a 2021 report by the FAO and UN-Water.

The total freshwater withdrawal in Sri Lanka is estimated at 12.95 billion cubic meter (m3) annually with about 82% of the total withdrawal used for paddy irrigation alone and a little over 5% used to irrigate other crops.

Sri Lanka also ranks consistently high on the Global Climate Risk Index, particularly in terms of climate risks associated with impact on water resources.

"Considering this the UN food agencies (FAO, IFAD and WFP) highlighted the urgent need for Sri Lanka to transform its agrifood systems at an event held to commemorate World Food Day under the auspices of the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera.

"The event highlighted the modern approaches supported by the agencies with potential for national scale-up towards sustainable and climate-resilient agriculture.

The voices of young people were also amplified at the event through debates, art and a special address by youth climate activist Tharika Fernando,” the media release said.