🌾 Sri Lanka Urges Early Cultivation to Counter El Niño Threat

• Maha Season Targets: Authorities target 830,000 hectares for paddy cultivation in the 2026/27 Maha season, a sector vital for national food security and employment. • Weather & Crop Shift: Above-average rains are forecast for Oct–Nov due to El Niño and a positive IOD, followed by a severe dry spell starting Jan 2027. Farmers are urged to sow by Oct 15–25 to harvest early and avoid flood and drought damage. • Water Management & Subsidies: To preserve water for the 2027 Yala season, farmers are advised to use Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) irrigation and avoid long-duration varieties. Water-deficit tracts are encouraged to shift to other field crops (OFCs) like maize and green gram while retaining full fertilizer subsidy eligibility.