Developing agriculture:

Gateway to economic prosperity in the North - Prof. Ranjith Senaratne

By Ranil Wijayapala

With the establishment of permanent peace, civil administration and the political set up and the infrastructure in the Northern province, once a vital economic nerve centre in the country, is now finding its ways to resuscitate its past economic glory. Sectors such as fisheries, tourism, industries, agriculture are slowly improving in the Northern province in its effort to shape up its economy into its previous glory and to become a greater deal of livelihood of many people.

People who were affected from the three decades long conflict and used to depend on the money sent to them by their relatives in foreign countries are also making an effort to rebuild their lost livelihood after being resettled in their own villages.

Although many efforts are being made to rebuild their lost livelihood many professionals finds that agricultural roots in the Northern province cannot be ignored when considering the major impact it had on the livelihood of its people and the contribution it made to the national economy prior to the period of terror that paralysed the entire economy in the North to the ground.

Grape cultivation in Jaffna

Papaya cultivation

Harvesting onions

Prof. Ranjith Senaratne, Senior Professor of Crop Science, University of Ruhuna and Vice Chairman of the University Grants Commission in an interview with the Sunday Observer emphasised the necessity to improve the agricultural sector in the Northern province to restore and improve the livelihoods and socio-economic standards of those engaged in farming in particular and the regional growth and development in general while talking about the challenges to improve the agriculture sector in the North.

"The Jaffna farmer known for his industriousness and diligence prior to the onset of the ethnic conflict in early 80s, contributed to around 12 percent of food production in the country. For instance, it accounted for around 75 percent, 30 percent, 30 percent and 15 percent, respectively, of the production red onions, chillies, grain legumes and rice in the country", he said.

Agriculture is the mainstay of the people in the region where around 60 percent of the people are engaged in farming and related activities, and 45 percent of the labour force directly depends on agriculture.

"However as a result of the protracted internecine conflict, the performance of all the sectors of the Northern economy including agriculture was drastically affected. Concomitant with it was the loss of livelihood and means of sustenance of millions of people living in the North", Prof. Senaratne said.

"Therefore in rebuilding and resuscitating the Northern region, it is imperative to revitalise the sector of agriculture to restore and improve the livelihoods and socio-economic standards of those engaged in farming in particular and the regional growth and development in general", he said.

He points out that consequent to the poor performance of agriculture sector in the North, the government had to sustain a heavy bill for the import of commodities such as onions, chillies, potato, groundnut and black gram. The import bill for the said items currently exceeds US$ 250 million or Rs. 33 billion annually. In addition to this a large sum of money is spent for the import of fruits such grapes, oranges, pomegranate etc., which can be successfully grown in the North.

"Therefore, it is of utmost importance to take the necessary steps to augment production and improve the processing and marketing of the said field and fruit crops that will not only help reduce the drain of valuable foreign exchange from the country, but also divert a substantial proportion of that US$ 250 million to the Northern region triggering and promoting its development and well-being of its people. Besides such a situation will facilitate and foster the process of reconciliation which is another high priority need of the hour", Prof. Senaratne said.

However, he points out that the issues such as lack of improved varieties and inadequacy of seed and planting material, non-adoption of new agro-technology, heavy post harvest losses, lack of value addition and new product development, poor market access have to be addressed when improving the agriculture sector in the North.

Apart from that lack of institutional support, lack of storage and processing facilities, lack of forward and backward linkages, neglected and damaged irrigation tanks and canals and resultant heavy water losses and poor in-service training facilities and extension services have also contributed for the slow progress in improving agriculture sector.

"Those aspects need to be addressed in any effort to resuscitate the agriculture economy in terms of crop production", he said.

He also points out that the improved physical connectivity by road and railway augmented by sea and air by means of the airport at Palali and the seaports of Kankesanturai and Point Pedro, coupled with e-connectivity via an island-wide modern and sophisticated telecommunication network has laid a sound infrastructure base for launching development initiatives.

"University of Jaffna being the intellectual pulse and brain trust in the region also has a pivotal role to play in this regard", he said.

He points out that for the Jaffna University to play its key role in redeveloping the agriculture. The Government has provided a sum exceeding Rs. 1,000 million over the past three years for the enhancement of academic programs and improvement of infrastructure facilities of the University of Jaffna and another 4 projects valued at Rs. 675 million are in the pipeline.

In addition a sum of Rs. 80 million has been provided to University of Jaffna in 2013 over and above the regular allocation to enhance its academic stature and research profile.

Moreover the Indian Government will fund the establishment of the Faculty of Agriculture and the Faculty of Engineering at Kilinochchi at a cost of around Rs. 390 million and Rs. 2430 million, respectively.

"These will provide the University of Jaffna with eight faculties, namely Agriculture, Arts, Applied Sciences, Business Studies, Engineering, Management Studies and Commerce, Medicine and Science with 326 academicians including over 29 professors and 78 PhD holders, a formidable, catalytic force of regional development", he said.

He said the Faculty of Agriculture of University of Jaffna had been functioning in Jaffna amidst limited facilities and physical constraints for its growth and expansion. Having recognised the role and importance of the Faculty of Agriculture could play in the regional development, President Mahinda Rajapaksa made available 162 hectares with some partially constructed buildings at Ariviyal, Nagar, Kilinochchi for the re-location of the Faculty of Agriculture. It was shifted to the new location late last year, providing space for its growth while responding to regional needs.

"This faculty is currently in the process of enhancing its academic, research and out-reach programs through capacity building. It has a dedicated and dynamic academic staff with over 200 students. Therefore the northern agriculture which has lagged behind for three decades owing to the conflict shows great promise now. It poses to the staff and students a wide range of issues as well as opportunities for constructive engagement with the farming community of the North. Therefore the Faculty of Agriculture through mobilising and channelling its intellectual and infrastructural resources could become a true and effective partner in the development of the region", Prof. Senaratne said.

Prof. Senaratne also points out that Northern agriculture has greater prospects and opportunities if fields crops such as chillies, red onion, Bombay onion, black gram, groundnut and sesame can be successfully cultivated in a commercial scale in the North for the import of which Sri Lanka currently spends over US$ 300 million annually.

"In addition, fruit orchards with compatible crop combinations can be established as multiple cropping systems backed by the requisite storage and processing facilities and marketing strategies.

"Horticultural crops such as mango, banana, grapes, orange, pineapple, pomegranate, cashew and wood apple hold promise in this regard. Introduction or development of new varieties, such as grapes, pomegranate etc. with market demand proves important", he said.

Moreover, crops such as nellie , palmyrah, drumsticks and tamarind which are relished particularly by the people in the North may be promoted through value addition and new product development.

"If they can be exported as value added products by canning of palmyrah toddy and packaging palmyrah jaggery in a more appealing manner by covering with a tinfoil and a wrapper like the way chocolate is marketed and canning drumstick so that they will have a niche market overseas" he said. Given the Sri Lankan expatriate population exceeding 1.2 million and a comparable number of expatriates from Tamil Nadu, this will be a steady and lucrative market which can bring in a good income to the North, he said.

Floriculture, is another area which has a growing demand at home and abroad. In view of the flourishing tourism industry, new emphasis on town planning and urban development, and increase of the living standards of people, there is a steady demand for flowers and floral products. In addition, flowers are closely associated with the Hindu culture and are used widely and frequently in religious and cultural activities. Moreover, floriculture can be an appealing means of income and a source of respite and mental solace to those who have been rendered widows following the ethnic conflict.

"There are more than 40,000 widows in the Northern Province and floriculture could help them start a new life. Moreover, under 'Divi Neguma' assistance is provided to establish home gardens. When rain water harvesting is established in each household, it can support home gardening almost a year round, adding to the household income and nutritional security. It can also be another diversion for the widows", he said.

However, for the above initiatives to be successful, all the key institutions in the public and private sector ought to work in concert, ensuring an integrated supply chain, he said. Among the public sector institutions, the Provincial Council, Department of Agriculture, Department of Irrigation, Palmyrah Board, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Banks, In-service Training Institute, District Secretariats etc. assume considerable importance.

"While mobilising the support of the public sector institutions, the University of Jaffna needs to forge a strategic partnership with the Chambers of Commerce and Industry. To this end, private sector institutions such as Hayleys, CIC, Lankem, Aitken-Spence and such like should be encouraged and promoted to invest not only in the production, but also in processing, value addition, new product development and marketing", he said.

The University Grants Commission is endeavouring to obtain the services of a Senior Fullbright Fellow from the USA to the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Jaffna to link it with renowned foreign universities so as to promote research, agri-business and agro-based innovations for the regional development. Besides, it will promote and support link programs between the universities in the North and South providing for exchange of staff and students, collaborative research and joint supervision of postgraduate students. Such linkages will enhance the academic and research programs in agriculture and allied fields at the University of Jaffna while promoting academic excellence and high impact research.

"Therefore, the improvement of agriculture sector in the North can offer many opportunities not only for the youth to be gainfully employed, but also for regional growth and development while bringing in a great deal of income and investment to the Northern region raising the socio-economic standard of those engaged in agriculture and allied fields who account for over 60% of the population in the region heralding a new economic era promoting human well-being and reconciliation", Prof. Senaratne said.