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National Agriculture Policy mooted

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Agriculture Ministry will shortly introduce a National Agricultural Policy (NAP) for the crop and livestock sector to ensure sustainable development by effectively addressing the challenges and issues in these sectors.

The intention of this approach is to adopt a commercially viable agricultural and livestock resource development process using new techniques and technologies in accordance with national and international socio-economic changes and new trends, Ministry Additional Secretary Danasena Hettiarachchi told the Daily News yesterday.

Agriculture and Livestock Minister S.B. Dissanayake is due to present the draft bill of this national agriculture policy in Parliament in March this year.

He said this new agriculture policy has been formulated on a priority basis with specific goals and objectives. In order to successfully reach the targets, the Ministry has already taken measures to educate Ministry officials.

The Ministry will also amend the Agrarian Development Act from March this year to grant benefits to both farmers and landowners by rectifying shortcomings of the existing act.

The Ministry has given priority for crop and livestock production planning, research and technology transfer, post-harvest and product development, industry development, resource management and support services, he said.

Hettiarachchi said that during the past few years, there was no systematic plan in the agriculture sector. On the directive of Minister S.B. Dissanayake, this agriculture policy has introduced a clear vision and mission to achieve sustainable development in the agriculture and livestock sectors without lagging behind in traditional methodologies.

New agriculture policy has divided the cultivation areas into several zones based on varieties of crops cultivated throughout the country. The Ministry in collaboration with Agriculture Research and Production Assistants has introduced a product forecasting and marketing information service for farmers.

For the first time in the history of agriculture Ministry, each Ministry officer from Ministry Secretary to minor employee has been given performance targets. Each institute of the agriculture and livestock sector has also been entrusted with special responsibilities. Every three months, their performances will be evaluated. Those who reach their targets will be given scholarships and promotions, he said.

Meanwhile the Ministry has given diaries to 20,000 employees of 12 categories under the Ministry including the officers in the North-East. As a significant feature, each diary has mentioned the job description and monthly programme in detail to be done by each officer.

As highlighted by the agriculture policy, a Rs.200 million special grant has been allocated to overcome the shortcomings in the Agriculture Department and the Agrarian Service Centres. Another Rs.100 million has been reserved for the livestock sector, he said.

He said the Farmers Trust Fund has also allocated Rs. 100 million to develop 26 farms and four Agriculture Schools. In addition, the fund will also provide loans to Field Officers to buy motorcycles. Loans have been granted to 400 officers so far.

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