Coastal Northern Sri Lanka

The climate-resilient agricultural landscape in coastal northern Sri Lanka confronts substantial adaptation challenges amid escalating environmental vulnerabilities. Traditional farming communities in districts like Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu face widespread saltwater intrusion affecting more than 50% of coastal agricultural land, with soil salinity levels ranging from non-saline conditions (0.105 dS m-1) to severely saline levels (4.002 dS m-1) that significantly impact paddy growth and yields. The region experiences severely compromised irrigation systems requiring extensive post-conflict rehabilitation, with traditional tank-based irrigation networks operating at reduced capacity and requiring substantial financial investment for restoration. Agricultural productivity remains constrained by deteriorated infrastructure, with an estimated crop production capacity of only 150,000 tons compared to pre-conflict levels of 800,000 tons across the province's 300,000 hectares of cultivatable land. Coordination challenges persist between resettled farming communities, local agricultural departments, and various implementing agencies, while resource constraints limit access to quality inputs and extension services across the region's 161 Agricultural Instructor ranges. Despite government initiatives promoting climate-smart practices and international support for infrastructure development, implementation gaps and insufficient targeted financing continue to constrain comprehensive climate adaptation measures across the diverse agricultural zones of northern Sri Lanka.