Farmers' Responses to Drought: Dry Zone of Sri Lanka: (Case Study in Medirigiriya)

Some years the erratic weather (dry) has affected a higher percentage of the agriculture farming community in Northern, Eastern, Uva and North Central provinces in Sri Lanka. Droughts can severely impact on human, natural environment, animal, agriculture and water resources. In the case of paddy production in Sri Lanka, if Maha rainfall is lower than the mean values, it effects on the paddy production not only in Maha but also in the preceding of Yala cultivation seasons. In Sri Lanka drought is frequently occurring in the Dry Zone areas with lack of rain water in particular cultivation seasons and years. The 2013/2014 drought has seriously damaged the agricultural production (specially the paddy production) in both Yala and Maha cultivation seasons. Over one million people in Sri Lanka have been severely affected by the drought in 2013/2014 for many districts in the Island. The Medirigiriya Divisional Secretariat (DS) of Polonnaruwa district has been one of the worst affected districts. Water levels of the many tanks have been declined. Paddy farmers have been faced economic hardships situation due to this drought. The main objective of this study was to examine the impacts of drought on paddy farmers. To study the adaptations practices of paddy farmers for drought, and how they are going to face for the same incidences in the future is also studied. This paper examined the perceptions of drought among paddy farmers in two villages using in-depth interviews with paddy farmers and focus group discussions with relevant officers. The field visit has been conducted in the month of October 2014. This drought has impacted to the agriculture, water resources, drinking water and food, environment, and household income. This stud