What Are the Effects of a Tsunami on Rice Production?

The 26 December 2004 tsunami tragically affected many rice-producing areas in Asia.

 

Country

Dead*

Missing*

Rice consumption (kg per capita)+

Indonesia

166,320

6,245

230.9

Sri Lanka

29,854

6,007

148.8

India

10,749

5,640

111.2

Thailand

5,313

3,396

151.2

Malaysia

68

6

132.5

Myanmar

59

 

315.7

Sources: (*) CNN.com, 20 January 2005, and (+) FAO

 

The exact extent of the damage to rice lands is still being evaluated. However, feedback from field officers puts the damage to rice fields at around 50-60,000 ha - with damage primarily in Indonesia, Sri Lanka and India. While the area of rice land affected is not large in terms of the world's total rice area (approximately 150 m ha), it is estimated that the tsunami affected the lives of around 200,000+ people who have rice as a significant part of their livelihoods.

 

A tsunami or invasion of salt water can affect rice production in terms of

  1. Direct crop losses, food shortages, and storage losses of donated food:
    See:
    • How to Store Grain and Seed More Safely

  2. Losses of seed stocks
    See:
    • How to Store Grain and Seed More Safely

  3. Salinization, soil loss, and soil deposits
    See:
    • How Can You Reclaim Affected Soils?
    • Do You Measure Soil Salinity?
    • Do Rice Varieties Vary in Their Tolerance of Salt?

  4. Shortages of labor and equipment
    See:
    • What Can I Do If Labor Is Short?
    • Where Can I Access More Rice Knowledge?

  5. Shortages of information on needed rice and other production practices
    See:
    • Where Can I Access More Rice Knowledge?
    • Useful Links
    • Contact Addresses for Local Agricultural Information

 

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) seeks to help the many people affected by the 26 December 2004 tsunami.

 

Dramatic photo of the tsunami waters receding from the shore of Sri Lanka. Photo from  http://www.digitalglobe.com/tsunami_gallery.html