Move to achieve self-sufficiency in food crops

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in rice and vegetables. The Ministry of Agriculture aims at achieving self-sufficiency in other food crops to save the huge drain of foreign exchange on the import of costly food items annually said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

Sunday Observer interviewed the Agriculture Minister on the recent developments in the agriculture sector.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: Almost all vegetable cultivations and one third of the paddy cultivation were destroyed by floods last January. What were the steps taken by your Ministry to recover the loss?

A: A crash vegetable cultivation program was launched in three districts namely Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy to provide seeds, plant materials and fertilizer free to farmers. House-wives and farmers were motivated to enhance production possible. The dedication and the support of the ministry helped produced ample stocks of vegetables during the New Year festive season.

Vegetable prices dropped to unbelievable levels at economic centres and the Pettah vegetable market during the past few months.

Q: What is the contribution of the Northern region to the local market?

A: Wanni farmers reaped bumper harvests. It is encouraging to note that the people who were persecuted by the LTTE terrorists had resumed cultivation within a short time and supply stocks to the market. They have brought all cultivable lands under the plough.

Q: Seeds, plant material and fertilizer were provided to selected areas free to overcome the impact of the disaster. Will this facility be continued?

A: It is too costly to continue. Assistance will be provided to motivate farmers. The ministry officials are deployed islanwide including the North and the East for consultancy.

Q: High breed seeds and plants are important for productive cultivation. How do you hope to promote such cultivation?

A: The 'Seed villages' programme launched by the ministry has been successful. Villagers in Dambulla and Matale had been selected to make seeds and planting materials for potatoes big onion and vegetables. Training and assistance were also provided to these villagers by the ministry.

The Agriculture ministry provides high quality materials for cultivators. As alleged by some people the production process by the ministry is progressing at a snail pace. I should say "It is slow but steady. There is no damage to seeds as the imported big onion seeds suffered in the recent past at Dambulla.

Q: Sri Lanka spends a sizable foreign exchange to import fruits such as apples, grapes, and oranges. What are your comments?

A: People should understand the consequences of bad habits. Apples are chemically treated before exporting and it remains in containers for a long period before reaching the local market. The bitter truth is that there is no nutritious value in those fruits.

Cultivation of banana, papaw, local oranges, guava and other varieties of local fruits should be promoted in Sri Lanka. They are now available at reasonable prices in the local market.

Q: You spoke of bad food habits and food practices. Can you elaborate.

A: Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure are partly attributed to bad habits. Why can't we eat gram, green gram, sweet potatoes, jackfruit, maize, instead of fast foods. Veralu is more nutritious than apples. There are plenty of local varieties and fruits which are not known to the present generation. Thambili Kurumba or coconut water is more nutritious than soft drinks. A child who died consuming an outdated bottled drink was reported recently.

Q: An organization to popularise local food was set up under your ministry. What is the response it received from the people.

A: Local kithul products have medicinal values Demand for kithul treacle, jaggery flour will increase if the consumers are made aware of the rich medicinal and nutritional properties.

The local rice, fruits, pulses are becoming very popular among health-conscious people. The local Food Promotion Centres at Dehiwala and Ambalantota are doing well.

Centres will be opened islandwide due to the overwhelming response we have received.

Q: Very often people are called upon to engage in various agricultural activities by different government agencies. Assistant and training is essential to encourage people. Lots of community based government development projects have failed due to the lack of inputs. Agrarian Services Centres (ASC) have become channelling centres. How do these centres implement agricultural and developmental activities of your ministry?

A: So far we have not experienced any breakdown in the services provided by them.

Q: The government made a bold decision to issue fertilizer on subsidised prices. Your comments.

A: The fertilizer subsidy costs the state coffers more than Rs. 5,000 billion a year. A 50 Kg bag of fertilizer for paddy is Rs. 350 while the price of a 50 Kg bag of other fertilizer is Rs. 1100 and Rs. 1200.

The government wants people to use this facility properly without wasting. It is advisable to follow the instructions of the agriculture officers.

Q: What is the progress achieved by the compost fertiliser project of the government.

A: Compost fertilizer is becoming popular among farmers. Compost fertilizer suppliers cannot meet the demand of potato cultivators. The Compost Fertilizer Centre at Pannala provides training and conducts practical programs for farmers.

Q: Govi Sathiya is scheduled to be held in Vavuniya from July 20-24. Are there any special programs for the Govi Sathiya.

A: Govi Sathiya is an annual event to motivate farmers and agricultural officers. The Agriculture sector is an important development partner of the nation.

The Ministry of Agriculture has taken steps, to revive the agricultural sector in Vanni. We have reaped good results which benefited the whole country-specially the Vanni people.

This time the Govisathiya program will be held at the Thandikulam Agriculture College in Vavuniya under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.