Foreign exchange crisis

A major source of foreign exchange is the plantation sector

One of the main strategies to solve the current foreign exchange crisis would be to increase export earnings and reduce expenditure on imports. Most of the activities involved are short term while the others are medium/long term. 

Increase export earnings

Increasing exports is of paramount importance to improve the present FE crisis. A major source of FE is the plantation sector. Around 800,000 ha are cultivated with plantation crops tea, rubber, coconut, etc. and this sector, in the last few years earned nearly Rs. 360 billion annually. However, as indicated in Table 1, production of these major export crops does not show any substantial increase during the last five years and the contribution from this sector has remained at nearly 20% of the export income. Hence, strategies need to be implemented to increase production and hence FE earnings from this sector. There are many State sector organisations to implement such strategies. 

As shown in Table 1, tea production has been fluctuating around 300 million kg per year during the last five years, in spite of several institutions assigned to the tea sector. The average tea yields are considerably lower than the potential yields. It has been reported that some of the cultivars developed by the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka had been yielding around 8,000 kg/ha in South India under commercial conditions but the average tea yield in Sri Lanka is much lower. In the smallholder tea sector, the average yield is around 1,800 kg/ha and in the estate sector it is about 1,200 kg/ha. In 2020 tea earned Rs. 230 billion in FE. Better management practices in the short term would increase the quantity and quality of the tea produced making it possible to increase FE earnings substantially from the current Rs. 230 billion. 

Rubber is another important export crop. In 2017 it earned nearly Rs. 6 billion in foreign exchange but has decreased during the following three years. Based on Central Bank annual reports, the total rubber production in 2010 was 152.9 million kg and by 2019 it has plummeted to 74.8 million kg. The corresponding average yields are 1,561 kg/ha and 665 kg/ha respectively. These figures indicate that the Sri Lankan rubber sector is ailing in spite of several institutions assigned to promote rubber production in the country. With the current higher rubber prices, it would be possible to earn more FE by increasing rubber production by better management practices which would produce results in the short term. During the last few years, the rubber sector has been affected by many factors one of which is ineffective management. 

Coconut production too has declined during the last five years as shown in Table 1. The total extent under coconut in Sri Lanka is around 400,000 ha and about 325,000 ha are small holdings. Annual production of coconut has been fluctuating around 3,000 million nuts, (app. 6,000 nuts/ha). At state of the existing coconut plantations need to be looked into. If the production of the existing coconut lands is increased by 1,000 nuts/ha/year by better management, and applying organic and inorganic fertilisers the total production can be increased by a substantial number within a year which will increase the export income from coconut.

This appalling situation in the plantation sector can be attributed to many factors. If the productivity of this sector is raised, by implementing better management practices it would be possible to increase foreign exchange earnings from this sector. Most of these practices would produce results in the short term.

A large number of crops other than tea, rubber and coconut cultivated in Sri Lanka have a high potential as export crops. There are 24 agro ecological zones, each characterised by specific climate and soils. This makes it possible the cultivation of different types of crops such as spice crops, tuberous crops, horticultural (fruit crops) and floricultural crops, medicinal herbs, etc. 

Sri Lanka is famous for spices. The most sought spice crops are cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cardamoms, nutmeg, mace and vanilla which grow in abundance mainly in the wet and intermediate zone. In 2020 country earned nearly Rs. 60 billion by exporting spice crops. 

Cinnamon is the most important spice commodity among the spice sector. In 2019, it earned around Rs. 32 billion in FE. The production of cinnamon has been fluctuating around 20,000 t per year during the last few years. Sri Lanka received its first-ever Geographical Indication (GI) certification when the European Union (EU) Commission on 2 February 2022 granted GI status to Ceylon Cinnamon and this would make a higher demand for Sri Lanka cinnamon. 

Pepper is the second important commodity among spices. It is grown in the wet and intermediate zones mostly as a mixed crop. The Sri Lankan pepper has higher piperine content which gives it a superior quality and pungency. Annual production of pepper too has remained stagnant at around 20,000 kg. 

Other spices such as cloves, cardamom, nutmeg and mace have the potential to earn a substantial amount of FE. With the increase of international demand for natural products, and the island’s focus on enhancing and evolving its value-added range, spices and the essential oils extracted from these crops will continue to earn more FE.

Dehydrated food is another agricultural product which has a potential to earn much wanted FE. During some months there is a glut of fruits and exporting dehydrated/canned fruits would bring in an appreciable amount of FE. 

In any program/plan to increase foreign exchange earnings from the agriculture sector, agro-industries has to be given much emphasis. A large number of crops cultivated in Sri Lanka have considerable potential in various agro-industries. However only rubber, coconut and a few fruit crops are used in industries. Crops such as cassava, horticultural and floricultural crops, medicinal herbs, cane, bamboo, sunflower, castor, ayurvedic herbs, etc. have a considerable industrial/export potential but are not cultivated to any appreciable extent. Development of agro-industries will also increase export income and will have a tremendous impact on the economy of the country and also provide employment opportunities among rural people. The private sector can be involved in such projects for which appropriate technical assistance need to be given by the relevant public organisations.

Decrease expenditure on imports

While implementing strategies to increase our FE income by promoting exports, action also needs to be taken to decrease our expenditure on imports. During the period 2017-2020 annual expenditure on importing food has been around Rs. 320 billion. The current expenditure on food imports is likely to be even more due to the depreciation of SL rupee, and shortage of rice and other food crops the result of banning import of agrochemicals.  

One of the problem the country is facing is the fuel crisis, which is likely to have extremely undesirable repercussions. A large sum of money is spent on importing petroleum to Sri Lanka, In 2020 we have imported fuel worth Rs. 540 billion. If we are going to consume petroleum products at the current rate, at least an additional Rs. 50 billion will have to be spent in 2022. Hence, it is essential that the consumption of petrol and diesel be reduced. In many other countries such as China, Thailand, Singapore action has already been taken to reduce fuel/ power consumption and cut down wastes. If we reduce our power consumption by 10%, it will result in a saving of Rs. 60 billion in foreign exchange.

Studies conducted in many countries have found that ethanol is an alternative for petrol. Many countries are either producing or using ethanol in large quantities or are providing incentives to expand ethanol production and use. Prompted by the increase in oil prices in the 1970s, Brazil introduced a program to produce ethanol for use in automobiles to reduce oil imports. Brazilian ethanol is made mainly from sugar cane. Among the countries using ethanol as a bio fuel are Australia, France, India, Sweden, USA, South Africa, etc. Use of ethanol tends to reduce environment pollution caused by compounds such as tetraethyl lead, used in petrol. Ethanol can be made from high starch containing crops such as manioc and maize, or high sugar containing crops such as sugarcane. These crops are cultivated in Sri Lanka. 

Around 10 million litres of alcohol are produced annually at Pelwatta and Sevanagala sugar factories. These can be used to blend petrol and used at least in three-wheelers so that those who use them need not pay higher fares. A few years ago, Prof. Thissa Witharana who was the then minister of Science and Technology, appointed a committee to look into the possibility of using substitutes for fuel. The committee recommended the use of ethyl alcohol and Jatropha oil as bio-fuels. No follow-up action was taken by the subsequent governments to promote these substitutes as bio-fuels. Oil from Jatropha (Weta Erandu) a crop that can be grown widely in the Dry Zone of Sri Lanka can be used as a bio fuel.

Dendro-power can be generated using fast growing nitrogen fixing tress such as glyricidia and leuceana. These crops not only can be used to generate electricity but also are a good source of animal feed and fertilisers. It may be more beneficial to grow these crops in eroded tea lands where the yields are relatively low. Soil erosion in such tea lands also can be reduced by growing these crops. The Bio Energy Association of Sri Lanka has been instrumental in promoting cultivation of glyricidia. 

Sri Lanka, a country begging for dollar loans to import medicine, fuel, etc., which are critically important, need to have a flexible policy on exports and imports. As indicated above, there are 24 agro ecological zones, each characterised by specific climate and soils. This makes it possible the cultivation of different types of crops Most of the food imported can be locally produced thereby reducing expenditure on food imports. A closer look at the imports indicates that around Rs. 50 billion (nearly 16% of food imports) in FE is spent on importing sugar, most of which can be locally produced. 

The total annual requirement of sugar in the country is around 620,000 t but, only about 50,000 t are produced locally. Sugarcane has a considerable potential in reducing the expenditure on food imports. Sugar production in the country has not increased by any appreciable amounts during the present decade. Kanthale sugar factory remains closed while a plan to cultivate sugarcane in Bibile remains shelved. Jaggery made from kitul, and sugarcane are good substitutes of sugar manufactured from sugarcane. 

A substantial amount of foreign exchange is spent on importing milk. In 2020 Rs. 60 billion in FE was spent to import milk and dairy products. We have around 1 million cattle consisting of mostly indigenous cattle. Their productivity is low (1-3 litres/day) mainly due to the poor nature of the breeds and inadequate low quality feed supply. The dairy industry has a potential to contribute considerably to solve the Sri Lanka’s FE crisis. 

Milk production can be increased by increasing availability of cattle food, and thereby an appreciable amount of foreign exchange spent on milk imports can be reduced. Milk production also plays an important role in alleviating nutritional poverty and it is a source of extensive employment opportunities. If milk production can be increased, an appreciable amount of foreign exchange spent on milk imports can be reduced and improve the nutrition status of the people. 

The expenditure on subsidiary food crops such as chilies, green gram, ground nut, potato etc., is few billions of rupees. The extent under these crops and their average per hectare yields have not increased by any appreciable amount during the last decade. A few years ago, a former Minister of Agricultural Development Chamal Rajapaksa appointed an Advisory Panel to make proposals to develop the agricultural sector so that there is a quantitative and qualitative increase in crop production at a lower cost with no damage to the environment. 

The recommendations of the panel were mainly on development and use of better varieties of seeds and planting material, effective control of weeds, insect pests and diseases, better water management, and water conservation, proper use of inorganic and organic fertilisers, controlling soil degradation and appropriate land use, promoting agro-industries, and carrying out relevant agric. Research and use of their findings. During the last few years numerous programs such as ‘AMA’, ‘Waga Sangramaya’ and ‘Govi Sevana’ were implemented. All these activities/programs, appear to have not made any appreciable positive impact on the agricultural sector of the country indicated by increasing expenditure on food.

In addition to sugar, milk, and rice, we spend a colossal sum on importing food items which can be locally produced. Among these are lentils (Rs. 20 billion) onion (Rs 16 billion), maize (Rs. 10 billion) fruits and vegetables and spices mainly chillies. Even herbs such as katuwelbatu, thippili which can be produced locally and used for ayurvedic drugs are imported at a cost of nearly $ 6 million every year. Most of these crops can be cultivated in the dry zone where only about 2 million acres are in productive use out of the 4.5 million ha. Non-availability of adequate rainfall during the Yala season is one of the limiting factors of crop production in the dry zone. However, better water management practices and rainwater harvesting would reduce this limitation

In addition to sugar, milk, and rice, we spend a colossal sum on importing food items which can be locally produced. Among these are lentils (Rs. 20 billion) onion (Rs 16 billion), maize (Rs. 10 billion) fruits and vegetables and spices mainly chillies. Even herbs such as katuwelbatu, thippili which can be produced locally and used for ayurvedic drugs are imported at a cost of nearly $ 6 million every year. Most of these crops can be cultivated in the dry zone where only about 2 million acres are in productive use out of the 4.5 million ha. Non-availability of adequate rainfall during the Yala season is one of the limiting factors of crop production in the dry zone. However, better water management practices and rainwater harvesting would reduce this limitation. 

Although hundreds of research projects related to plantation and food crops are carried out by the faculties of agriculture, Dept. of Agriculture, etc., there appears to be very little liaison/interaction among the relevant institutions, to utilise the research findings in our efforts to increase productivity in the agriculture sector which will result in saving of an appreciable amount of FE. 

(The writer is a former Professor at Ruhuna and Rajarata Universities and can be reached at [email protected].)