Agri-business community spearheads national drive

by Charmaine FERNANDO

"National Development should be our collective goal whether State or private sector. Through overwhelming participation, agri-business community clearly indicate their readiness to join forces with the far-sighted action of the Government, to combat the impending global food crisis" said Maithripala Sirisena, Minister of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services opening the Profood Propack 2009 Exhibition and Ag-Biz 2009 National Trade Fair at Sirimavo Bandaranaike Memorial Exhibition Centre, recently.

The exhibition covered every sphere of agriculture from organic agriculture, through food crops, fruits, vegetables, floriculture and post harvest treatment. There were over a 100 participants including the Kerala State pavilion, Agriculture Ministry entities such as Food Reasearch Unit, Institute of Post Harvest Technology, National Centre for Organic Agriculture and Post Graduate Institute of Agriculture. Expanding beyond our shores and markets, with quality certified standards, was identified as the way forward.

Exchange of expertise and commercial opinions hold as much importance to agriculture, as the need to benefit from technological developments and modernized techniques he said. The majority of agri-based stalls belonged to micro, small and medium enterprises. This is an indication of the local efforts towards warding off the impending food crisis to some extent and supporting the Government's "Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu" incentive to create food-independence against FAO warnings of imminent food crisis.

The Ministry of Industrial Development facilitates industrial growth, more so the agri-based industry that underlines the food drive. Kumar Welgama, Minister of Industrial Development said this exhibition will pave many opportunities to enter new market channels.

Concessions are also provided to universities and state organisations to participate and disseminate knowledge and research findings to the industry. The Ministry was instrumental in obtaining many facilities including 5 years tax holiday on profits to any undertaking engages in agriculture, dairy farming, and food processing and other related sectors he stated.

Speaking on the occasion of the 8th Processed Foods and Packaging Exhibition , Asoka Gopallawa, Chairman, National Agri-Business Council said, within a few years of bringing together expertise in agriculture related industry, technologists, suppliers of farm machinery,packaging, transport, and other service providers, under one roof through this exhibition, had played a pivotal role in the development of agriculture.

As a result the exhibition, has helped farmers to upgrade their cultivation techniques leading to enhanced yields, improved quality standards, better prices and profits. He said that this year that farmers, from all twenty four districts including the North and East, will participate in the Farmer Awards 2009 which shows an islandwide enthusiasm and eagerness to take to agriculture with a positive mindset.

Chief Minister of Eastern Province, S. Chandrakanthan said that 30% of the country's resources are in the Eastern Province. Now seven processing plants are in place and US $ 150 billion is being spent to develop the liberated area. Public-private sector joint involvement and foreign investor sponsorship in agriculture based industry is crucial to keep abreast of global requirements and standards and meeting the rising the demand, while making the country self sufficient in food supplies, he said.