Poly-net houses to avert crop destruction

By L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI

Advanced 'Scientific systems' have been formulated by developed countries to save harvests and cultivations from natural disasters such as floods, heavy rains and drought. Those methods have been introduced to Sri Lanka for better productivity, said North East Agriculture and Irrigation Project (NEAIP) Director S.K. Liyanage in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Excepts of the interview:

Q: The people who visited the Vavuniya Agriculture Exhibition 2011, were impressed by the two Poly Tunnel Cum Net Houses for vegetables, fruits and plants. Another Poly net house has also been built in the Parliamentary Premises. Is there a plan to popularise these poly-net houses?

A: These are samples of a project which will be implemented islandwide soon. There are no stable prices for vegetables, fruits or food items such as onion, and potatotoes in Sri Lanka while cultivations and harvests are being destroyed by natural disasters and as a result prices escalate. When cultivations are successful, prices drop. On the other hand, prices are stable in advance countries throughout the year due to the application of scientific methods in Agriculture

Q: Sri Lanka is blessed with natural resources. Ancient farmers wisely used rain water for cultivation by constructing tanks such as Tissaweva, Yodhaweva.

The Yala-Maha cultivation seasons are also based on natural climatic condition. In this context do we need poly-net houses?

A: The ideal example for the need of poly-net houses for cultivation was last January, February, due to islandwide heavy rains and floods. One third of the paddy harvest was destroyed and the total vegetable cultivation was affected. Sri Lanka did not face a severe food shortage or food crisis due to January-February floods owing to the timely steps taken by the government specially the Ministries of Agriculture and Economic Development.

The crash programs for paddy and vegetables and other food cultivation launched in Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Kandy Districts were successful. During the New year season there was a surprise drop of vegetable prices due to over supply of food items and vegetables to the market.

The government provided seeds and fertiliser free of charge to encourage farmers to recultivate their lands. Millions of rupees were spent by the government on a crash program. If we have a poly-net house scheme, floods or rains will not affect cultivations and smooth supplies to the market will be ensured.

Poly-Tunnel cum nethouses for agriculture are being used by advanced countries such as Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and Israel. Infact their cultivation is safe even during winter due to the scientific methods which they adopt for agriculture.

Q: What is the further plan to expand the poly-nethouse scheme?

A: The target of the poly-net house program is to set up 14,032 poly-net houses having at least one net house in a Grama Niladari Division which will help farmers as well as the commercial agriculturers to familiarise the value of Net houses. This project is being handled by the Economic Development Ministry.

Q: Is there any link between Divinaguma and Gami Diriya Economic Development projects-launched by the government at grass roots level?

A: The DiviNaguma program launched by Economic Development Minister, Basil Rajapaksa is bringing successful results. It was to set up over one million home gardens.

The Economic Development Minister had given a farsighted approach to grass roots level livelihood development projects which are being funded by the World Bank and other Donor Agencies. The Minister-very correctly pointed out that the root of the problems should be addressed without touching the surface. Under the "Reawakening Sri Lanka program", the World Bank had agreed to provide funds upto 2014 for livelihood Development projects aiming at sustainability in the villages in the districts in the Northern and the Eastern Provinces Sustainable livelihood programs were mainly limited to provide basic requirements such as seed, plant materials, chicks and cows for Agriculture and small scale livestock projects at village level. It was later realised that these schemes are not capable of bringing sustainability to villagers in the long run.

Q: Can you explain the present approach to eradicate poverty and develop the rural sector in Sri Lanka?

A: "Gamidiriya" is a project which aims at sustainability at village level. At the beginning this program was limited to livelihood development such as self-employment and small-scale projects. Under the instructions of Minister Basil Rajapaksa, the "Gamidiriya" program was revamped.

Further under the agreement signed by Sri Lanka and the World Bank on "Reawakening Sri Lanka" funding facilities were limited only to 12 districts in the North, the East and the North Central provinces. Flood devastation in January and February in 2011 has heavily damaged Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Ampara and Badulla districts. The dams of the ancient tanks were breached or threatened by floods. In fact it was evident that a "Dam safety program" was also an urgent need.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa has convinced the World Bank about the prevailing situation and "Donor Agencies". As a result, financial assistance was granted to other districts.

At present sixteen districts are being covered by the Gamidiriya Development Foundation. Basic infrastructure facilities in villages such as roads, tanks are also being constructed or are being renovated.