Measuring the pulse of pulses, improving food security in Sri Lanka

Published 2024년 5월 8일

Tridge summary

Sri Lanka is facing a significant challenge in meeting its dietary protein requirements, with only 8% of its protein supply coming from pulses, which is far below the recommended level. The country's pulse production has seen a decline despite an increase in cultivation area, and imports are not enough to cover the shortfall. The article highlights the need for improved productivity, efficiency, and marketing of pulses in Sri Lanka to address the dietary requirements of its growing population. It suggests short-term strategies to improve production and long-term strategies to increase rural income and food security through underutilized pulse crops. The article also emphasizes the importance of collaboration among value chain stakeholders, promoting value addition, and consumer education on the benefits of pulses.

Disclaimer:The above summary was generated by Tridge's proprietary AI model for informational purposes.

Original content

By Dr. Kiruthika Natarajan, Dr. Manoj Thibbotuwawa, and Dr. Suresh Babu While Sri Lanka is recovering from its worst economic crisis since independence, significant concerns remain as 42% of the households still adopt food coping strategies which severely affect both quantity and the quality of protein consumption. Pulses are rich in quality and quantity of proteins; however, pulses comprise only 8% of Sri Lanka’s per capita protein supply. Also, the per capita availability of pulses for consumption in Sri Lanka through local production and imports is just over half the recommended quantity for a balanced diet. Against this backdrop, this blog analyses the trends in pulse production, consumption requirements, trade, and associated policy options to provide recommendations for sustainable pulse production to meet the dietary consumption and nutritional requirements of Sri Lanka’s growing population. Pulse production at crossroads Over the years, the cultivation of pulses in Sri ...

Source: Ft