Abstract:
A survey was conducted to identify land-use pattern of rice-based cropping
systems in the country using 9000 samples at the end of the Yala season 2019.
Data were gathered by visiting selected paddy fields in a yaya (track) of those
sample locations. Data were statistically analysed using the chi-square test in
SAS. Out of the lands surveyed, 3.5% of the lands were abandoned. The
percentage of abandoned paddy lands were significantly high (p<0.0001) in rain fed areas (7.4%) compared to major (1.4%) and minor (2.5%) irrigation areas.
Western province had the highest number of abandoned paddy fields (27%)
while it was the lowest in Uva province (0.0%). Out of the total plots surveyed,
67% occupied by paddy and 29% was kept as fallow. Moreover, 1.6%, 1.5%,
0.4% and 0.3% were occupied by other field crops (OFC), vegetables, banana and
perennials, respectively. The least % of lands cultivated by paddy (53%) and the
highest % of lands kept fallow (43%) was observed in the Northern province.
Uva province was dominated by the OFC cultivation (15%) while vegetable was
dominated in the Central province (9.4%). Banana was mainly cultivated in the
Sabaragamuwa province (5.4%) while 0.9% of paddy lands in Western province
were converted to perennial crops. Reasons for diversifying paddy lands to
alternative land-uses need to be explored, and the current findings will be useful
in making future decisions on rice-based cropping systems to ensure
sustainability of those lands
