Remove barriers to export fruits and vegetables to India - NAC
chairman
‘Food crisis a blessing in disguise’:
by Surekha Galagoda
[email protected]
The food crisis experienced by the world is a blessing in disguise
for a country of our size with ample resources as the world’s largest
democracy, India, with a 1.2 billion population is our neighbour.
|
Sarath De Silva |
Chairman, National Agribusiness Council(NAC) Sarath De Silva said
that the people engaged in agriculture will not experience a glut or
surplus as we can export the excess produce but the quarantine barriers
as well as tariff and non tariff barriers should be removed to
facilitate exports of fruits and vegetables to India.
He said that during the SAARC Summit there will be discussions
between officials of India and Sri Lanka to agree on sharing of
resources between the two countries.
De Silva said that SriLankan Airlines should develop ties with the
Indian Civil Aviation authorities so that India will not feel alien
about SriLankan Airlines. At present India imports regional tropical
fruits from Thailand, Brunei and Malaysia.
If cargo freighters are permitted to fly we would be able to supply
the demand as most tropical fruits such as Dragon fruit, Papaya and red
lady grow in Sri Lanka, he said.
At present fruits and vegetables are in demand and the prices they
fetch has made most people take to cultivation even in their own homes.
The Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu concept launched by President Mahinda
Rajapaksa has inspired people and now everybody is ready to grow
vegetables and fruits, but cheaper inputs such as land, water and
fertiliser should be made available to promote the initiative.
He said the land for cultivation of model farms is yet to be released
by the Department of Agriculture. Lack of coordination between the
public and private sector and the attitude of public sector officers is
a major hindrance.
De Silva said that the government should provide help in this hour of
need as this can take our country to prosperity.
At present the requirement of mustard, cummin seed and garlic are
being imported while 80% of the potatoes, 100% of the green gram and 90%
of onions required by Sri Lanka is being imported but with the
liberation of the East there is more land for cultivation and the East
is a chemical free zone.
In the event these lands are cultivated the country can reduce import
substitution while increasing exports and this initiative can help
reduce the food bill of the country.
He advocated that every home should have a cow as a solution to the
milk shortage.
Apart from making the maximum use of land, coconut lands can be
interplanted with other crops. This will also increase productivity and
make the maximum use of land.
De Silva said that special help and financial benefits should be
given for people who engage in rainwater harvesting and manufacturing of
organic fertiliser as this would help to reduce the fertiliser bill.
Outward migration will also stop if we all grow. For this, support
must be extended by the government. The NAC has set up Farmer Councils
in 17 districts and 400,000 new members have joined these Councils.
The single largest exhibition of fruits and vegetables AgBiz from
August 22-24 will include, trade stalls and the awards ceremony.
During this period there will be a walk by farmers from the
Parliament grounds to the BMICH to create awareness on cultivation. In
addition farmers will be rewarded at the awards ceremony. Several
well-known personalities in the area of agriculture will address
seminars during this period.
De Silva said that global warming together with the high energy costs
has resulted in high food prices as the high energy cost has resulted in
high cost of transport.
Therefore, being self-sufficient is the only solution for this
problem. As we are a country with a large amount of resources and
different climatic conditions we should seize this opportunity to be
self-sufficient and thereby reduce the high food import bill. |
