Placing smallholder farmers and fishers at the centre of Cyclone Ditwah recovery

CYCLONE

- By Vimlendra Sharan

Ditwah has brought hardship to many families across Sri Lanka, and our thoughts remain with all those who have lost loved ones, homes, and livelihoods. While impacts have been felt across the country, smallholder paddy farmers, vegetable growers, and small-scale fishers are among the most affected, with damage to fields, inputs, equipment, boats, and landing sites disrupting their ability to work at a critical moment.Smallholder farmers and fishers are the backbone of Sri Lanka’s food system. They produce most of the rice, vegetables, and fish consumed nationwide and provide employment for a large share of rural households. Their rapid return to production is vital not only for their own recovery, but also for ensuring food security and supporting rural economies in the months ahead. With timely and targeted assistance, these communities have the strength, resilience, and capacity to recover quickly.

Over the past week, I visited affected communities in Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Puttalam and Chilaw. Walking through flood-damaged paddy lands, meeting shrimp farmers in Chilaw, and speaking with families who have lost crops and equipment, I was reminded that numbers in a report can never fully capture the lived realities on the ground. Yet even amid loss, one thing stood out everywhere I went: the quiet determination of farmers and fishers to rebuild.