Giant step towards self-sufficiency and food security
National Drive for Local Food Production (NDLFP):
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Selected crops
Under the National Drive for Local Food Production, the production of
following crops will be encouraged
Paddy: Supplementary Crops: Maize, Kurakkan, Chilies, Big Onion/Small
Onion, Green Gram, Kaupi, Soya beans, Cashew, Udu.
Fruit: Banana, Papaya, Pine Apple, Grape, Mango, Delum, Avocado,
Mangosteen, Rabutan and pears.
Vegetables: Beans, Bringjol, Ladies Fingers, Wing Beans, Tomato, Maa,
Bushta and leaves such as Gotukola, Mukunuvenna.
Potatoes: Sweet Potatoes and Milk Potatoes
Spices: Ginger, Cinnamon, Paper, Ensal and Tamarind.
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by Indeewara Thilakarathne
As the Government will launch its ambitious, National Policy on
Agriculture and the National Drive for Local Food Production (NDLFP) on
September 3, 2007, the nation's attention will shift on to one of the
vital sectors of the economy, the Agricultural Sector which provides
direct employment to nearly 30 per cent of the population.
The launch of the National Policy on Agriculture by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa will also mark an important development in the sector with the
re-establishment of the Paddy Marketing Board and the creation of the
Organic Fertilizer Authority which will facilitate and popularise the
use of organic fertiliser, substantially reducing the present
over-reliance on chemical fertiliser which is costly and harmful to the
environment.
It is expected that the Authority would help reduce the use of
chemical fertilizer by 25 per cent within the next three years once the
time the NDLFP is activated.
Although the fundamental thrust of Sri Lankan economy is on
agriculture, it has been observed that the growth in the Agricultural
Sector is remaining low compared to Industrial and Service sectors.
In 2006, Agriculture's contribution, including Plantation, Fisheries
and Forestry Sectors, to GDP is 16.8 per cent. In the rural sector over
70 per cent make a living out of Agriculture, though 25 - 30 per cent of
them live in abject poverty.
In a way it is shameful that a nation which had been famed as the
granary of Asia, has now, been reduced to a position where 30 per cent
of demand for food is met by imported food items, spending Rs.100
billion and making it one of the major factors responsible for depleting
foreign currency reserves.
Apart from milk and milk-related products, canned fish, Rs.49 billion
was spent on importing supplementary food items such as grain & fruit.
Although Sri Lanka produces vegetables extensively, it has been found
out that the total production is enough only to cover half of the
prescribed amount of vegetable that an individual should consume per
year, 62 kg of vegetables.
Against this backdrop, the National Drive for Local Food Production
is a timely initiative aimed at addressing some of the vital core issues
affecting the wellbeing of the masses. It will address the issues such
as rising cost of living, malnutrition and food insecurity in addition,
NDLFP will substantially contribute to the reduction of present
over-reliance on imported foods.
Mapped out strategy of the drive is to encourage and facilitate home
gardening with the intention of creating food security at household
level. Vegetables, fruit and herbs of medicinal value will be grown at
house hold level, using organic manure and encouraging food production
at household level.
This will lead environment-friendly wholesome food production in the
family without the use of chemical manure, contributing to the steady
improving of household economy. It will also reduce the waste of
vegetables and other crops during the exchange of products from farmers
to consumers.
The NDLFP will enlist the participation of all segments of the
populace from politicians, officials and school children and their
parents. Major sectors where the NDLFP will be launched are rural and
urban home gardens, school premises, home gardens of school children,
premises of Offices and Official residences and model home gardens, Army
camps, private home gardens of Officials, Premises of private Offices
and home gardens of politicians.
In addition to the home gardens, selected vegetable and fruit will be
grown in Government owned farms and the abandoned paddy fields will be
cultivated.
As a step to streamline the process of marketing for agricultural
products, Government will directly intervene on a minimal basis through
the re-establishment of now-defunct Paddy Marketing Board and diverse
trade agreements will be introduced with the active involvement in
private sector in order to provide a stable market for vegetables and
fruit.
Regionalisation of crops
Crops will be regionalised depending on the optimal environment
conditions in each region which are specifically suitable for crops,
ensuing bounty harvest with less threats from insects. This will also
facilitate supply of inputs, other allied services and setting up of
agro-industries in order to add value to the production.
One of the significant aspects of the all encompassing national drive
is the systematic supply of seeds and seed-kit for home gardening will
be distributed and the private sector participation is sought in
importation of seeds and in popularising cell-transplant technology.
Under this, developed species of crops through cell-transplant
technology in private sector laboratories, will be distributed among
farmers through appointed agents.
In order to minimise post-harvest waste of agricultural products,
especially vegetable and fruits, post-harvest technology will be
applied. Post-harvest waste of vegetables and fruit has been estimated
as 30 per cent - 40 per cent of the yield in order to arrest this
negative trend, three hundred million plastic containers will be
distributed among farmers, harvest gatherers and retail and whole-sale
traders.
Cyber Agricultural Extension Project (CAEP)
Under the project, Agricultural Centres scattered throughout the
country will be networked with research Centres, Extension Offices,
Training Centres and private sector to ensure a smooth coordination of
inputs and supplies. Web-conferencing will be utilised to communicate
between farmers/farmer groups and Research Officers, Training Officers.
In addition a comprehensive data-base will be set up and maintained
by rural agricultural Centres and data pertaining to the various pest
infections as well as data relevant for E-marketing. Interactive
Multimedia CD-Rom will be introduced to extend the agro-based
technology. Already 22 multimedia CDs have been produced and distributed
among rural agriculture Centres.
Agricultural advisory service has been expanded with opening up of a
hot line 1920 which can be used to obtain information from the Advisory
Council. The three minute free hotline will provide immediate extension
services.
Series competitions at provincial and national levels will be
conducted to select the best home garden among stakeholders of the NDLFP
including farmers, officials and politicians. The winner will be awarded
prizes and certificates.
It is the fervent hope of the nation that the National Drive for
Local Food Production will boost the agricultural sector, providing
gainful employment for youth and addressing the vital issues of
malnutrition, rising cost of living.
It will also be a giant step towards realising the goals of
self-sufficiency and food security, a precursor for realising the
Millennium Goals including eradicating abject poverty with a decent life
for all.
[email protected]
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Objective of the NDLFP
1. Increase the production of principle crops (such as Paddy and
other grains)
2. Increase the contribution of Agriculture to Gross Domestic Production
(GDP)
3. To ensure food and nutrition protection
4. To improve peoples' consumption pattern
5. To reduce import expenditure on food items on annual basis
6. To increase farmers' income
7. To reduce the use of chemical fertiliser by 25 per cent within the
next three years through the use of carbonic manure.
8. To expand the use of appropriate and innovative technology
9. Encourage youth participation in Agriculture
10. Encourage the use of environment-friendly and indigenous/
traditional methods of farming
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State of Agriculture
* Agriculture's contribution to GDP - 16.5 per cent (Agri, Fisheries
and Forestry)
* Employment in Agricultural Sector - 32 per cent
* Rural Employment - 70 per cent
* Rural Poverty - 25-30 per cent |