Even though the transition towards organic farming seemed like an environmentally sustainable step forward, the sudden switch was a time bomb waiting to explode. As the new methods of production seemed to be more expensive with lower yields, this unprecedented agricultural policy led to serious impacts on the Sri Lankan economy. Twenty percent of rice production fell, leaving nearly 33 percent of its agricultural land unused and increasing rice prices by 50 percent in about seven months.
Sri Lanka is a classic case of how a one-size-fits-all approach toward sustainable development is detrimental to inclusive progress. Not all policies can be absorbed at the same pace for developing nations in comparison to the Global North. This is mainly because of the resource gap in the foundations of the economy…. The transition would undoubtedly be easier (if not seamless) in an advanced economy in comparison to Sri Lanka.
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Now, it is for time to tell how Sri Lanka charts out its recovery in the next few months, and more importantly provide lessons to the entire South Asian neighbourhood on the policy directions to take in the post-pandemic recovery phase.
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