The first step towards realising national goals

National Drive for Local Food Production (NDLFP):

by Indeewara Thilakarathne

After the successful awareness campaign launched island wide with Vap Magula and the progress evaluation of the National Drive for Local Food Production (NDLFP), the sales of seed-kits for home gardening has dramatically increased.

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, the sale of seed-kits for home gardening as well as vegetable seed-kits has increased several fold. Though there are no immediate statistics, it can be speculated that a number of seeds including those of seed-paddy distributed under the Eastern Development Programme would increase local food productivity.

As established in the evaluation, the increase in the sales of seed-kits for home gardening and seed-paddy in the East can be attributed to the successful awareness campaign carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture. Awareness is certainly the first step towards realising national goals.

The NDLEP is expected to reduce the use of chemical fertilizer by 25 per cent within the next three years once 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 remains low compared to the 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 was 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 and canned fish, Rs.49 billion was spent on importing supplementary food items such as grain and 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 issues affecting the wellbeing of the masses.

It will address issues such as the rising cost of living, malnutrition and food insecurity and 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 to environment-friendly wholesome food production in the family without the use of chemical manure, contributing to the steady improvement 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 to school children and their parents.

Major sectors where the NDLFP will be launched in the 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 abandoned paddy fields will be cultivated.

As a step to streamline the process of marketing for agricultural products, the 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 of the 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 a bountiful harvest with less threats from insects. This will also facilitate the 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-kits for home gardening and distribution while private sector participation will be 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 vegetables and fruits, post-harvest technology will be applied.

Post-harvest waste of vegetables and fruit has been estimated at 30 per cent - 40 per cent of the yield in order to arrest this negative trend and 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 the 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 and Training Officers.

In addition, a comprehensive data-base will be set up and maintained by Rural Agricultural Centres and data pertaining to 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.

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