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Follow Thai model for locally grown crops - Wayamba CM

by Chilaw special correspondent

Everyone desirous of ameliorating their conditions of living, should undertake viable projects for gainful employment by making use of the scientific technology and know-how available from the Industrial and Technology Institute to produce commercially marketable products following the model in Thailand, where indigenous, value-added packeted products are manufactured from organically grown produce such as crops, fruits, vegetables, greens, etc., sold in supermarkets on a large scale with colourful wrapping and packaging along with a guarantee to attract local as well as overseas customers, said Wayamba Provincial Chief Minister Athula Wijesinghe.

He was speaking after opening a Science and Technology Exhibition organised by the provincial Ministry of Fisheries and Co-operatives under the aegis of the Industrial and Technology Institute held at the Ananda Maha Vidyalaya, Chilaw. The Chief Minister said: Sri Lanka was a country where a lot of produce goes waste as no practical mechanisms are utilised to preserve perishable crops for a rainy day.

People could find out from this exhibition how all varieties of produce could be preserved and marketed. Manual labour was noble and each one should learn how to ply a self-employment project through sheer learning and by doing it. Even fish and shrimp could be preserved. What was needed was one's effort to carry on a trade. If one had a wish, then there was a way and it would materialise someday. Every produce could be made use of except polythene bags littered everywhere.

He said this is the market to be tapped for gainful employment. All the skill, expertise and competence could be obtained from the Industrial and Technology Institute in Colombo so that they could initiate a project for their own good as well as for the welfare of the country.

Wayamba Provincial Minister of Fisheries and Co-operatives B. Anthony Victor Perera said, The export market should be explored. And most of all, high standards should be maintained for competition in addition to acquisition of knowledge and proficiency to develop a viable project for living.

The jak fruits in Sri Lanka perished under the trees. Even bananas which are perishable could be turned into a flour. Therefore, all the know-how could be obtained from those who are managing the exhibition to better their prospects in life.

Provincial Sports, Youth Affairs and Social Welfare Minister Neranjan Wickremasinghe, Commissioner of Co-operatives Ranjith Waidyathilaka, Chilaw Urban Council Chairman A. C. Sweeney Perera and several others also spoke.

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