Sri Lankan authorities and farmers are combining traditional knowledge with new agricultural approaches to prepare for an impending El Niño phenomenon.
These preparations are critical to safeguarding food security and protecting biodiversity against the expected drought and heat impacts of the climate event. The strategy focuses on mitigating risks to agriculture and wildlife across the country, including the Colombo District.
In Thalangama, farmer Rathnayaka Mudiyanselage Suwandarathne is among those implementing these measures by promoting the use of heirloom crop varieties. These traditional seeds are often more resilient to extreme weather than modern hybrids, a necessity as the country braces for the 2026 El Niño season.
Beyond the farms, the government is focusing on the country's protected areas. Approximately 14% of Sri Lanka's total land area is dedicated to wildlife protected areas, which encompasses more than 20 national parks [1]. Authorities are concerned that the combination of climate stress and encroachment could threaten these sensitive ecosystems.
There is a lack of consensus among experts regarding the potential severity of the event. Some subject experts said that Sri Lanka would be able to manage the impacts if handled judiciously, with some saying that the El Niño is not expected to be severe [2]. Other reporting indicates that authorities are preparing for significant anticipated impacts [3].
Regardless of the predicted intensity, the current effort marks a shift toward integrating indigenous farming wisdom with modern climate science. By diversifying crops and monitoring protected zones, the government aims to create a buffer against the volatility of the coming months.
“Sri Lankan authorities and farmers are combining traditional knowledge with new agricultural approaches.”
The integration of heirloom crops and traditional knowledge suggests a strategic pivot toward agricultural resilience in Sri Lanka. By reducing reliance on modern hybrids that may fail during droughts, the country is attempting to decouple its food security from the volatility of global climate patterns, while simultaneously addressing the vulnerability of its national parks to environmental stress.
