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Six month moratorium on rice and potato imports

by Tharika Goonathilake

The Government is planning to impose a six month moratorium on the import of rice, potato, onion and dried chillies to boost earnings of local farmers and cultivators, the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock S.B Dissanayake said yesterday.

The Minister said that although this would create certain difficulties in the short term, it would help to resurrect, re-organise and re-develop the agricultural sector in the long term.

Minister Dissanayake who was addressing officials and staff at the Livestock ministry premises after assuming duties said that the Indo-Sri Lanka Trade Agreement too would be further discussed to accommodate certain changes aimed at helping local farmers out of their present predicament.

"Local vegetable farmers as well as those in the livestock farming communities have been subjected to immense difficulties for over 20 years. No government has been able to successfully redress their difficulties or ensure a good market and price for their produce,"the Minister said.

The United National Front Government will introduce measures to revive this sector. A strategic plan of action, given the vast and unexplored potential for economic development in these sectors would be drawn up.

The strategy will include the introduction of better quality seeds, setting up a proper collection and distribution channel for both agricultural and livestock sectors, introducing new technology, exploring new markets, and ensuring a stable environment for agricultural and livestock farmers.

"My vision is to ensure that the local farmers are given incentives and support to develop their products and make this country self sufficient," the Minister said.

He said that this would call for difficult decisions and even result in certain difficulties for the consumers. Nevertheless it is essential to develop this country and rescue the economy from its dire straits.

Minister Dissanayake called on all officials and staff to work together in a spirit of cooperation to make this goal a reality.

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