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| Thursday, 1 January 2004 |
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2004 International Year of Rice by Rev. Fr. Reid Shelton Fernando Rice is life. If there is no rice, then there is no life in the people. In the history of our country we recall the glorious past when the rice production was at its zenith. So the leaders made the necessary wherewithal to produce rice.
The irrigation tanks were erected and the rain water was protected so as to produce paddy enough for the consumption of every one. So in that era, for all three meals the people were able to consume rice without any hitch. This pattern took a downward trend when the non-rice eating colonialists did take over our land. They by an by introduced other cereals to the neglect of paddy cultivation. The irrigation systems were not properly maintained. Cash crops were introduced over last two to three hundred which no doubt affect rice production. Our own culture was part and parcel with the agriculture. The very world agriculture too includes the word culture. Here I am not going to delve into a discussion on culture, except to show that agriculture has become part and parcel of the Sri Lankan ethos. It is sad that in the recent this necessary connection is not taken seriously to the detriment of the culture that gave life for so long. In the recent past there were other problems of agriculture regarding the traditional and the modern. I am no expert to comment on these two aspects, nor I have done any research on the subject of agriculture. Now that UN has set rice and food production on the global agenda, for the year 2004, one can comment on the various aspects on this subject whether expert or not. Let the experts too come and enlighten this discussion so that there is fruitful conversation. Rice is life for half the world's population. The campaign begins on the 1st of Jan mooted by FAO so that rice may come to the centre stage to alleviate poverty and tackle the problem of hunger of so many people in the world. According to the comment of the Director General of the FAO Jacques Diouf said "Almosta billion households in Asia, Africa and the Americas depend on rice systems for their main source of employment and livelihood", at the launch of the Year of Rice. He further noted that about four-fifths of the world's rice is produced by small-scale farmers and is consumed locally.This contention is very valid in the Sri Lankan situation. A boon for Agriculture Those involved in the agriculture sector would notice the present trend of discouraging the small-scale rice growers. The infra structure facilities were denied and they were hardly able to sell their produce at a profitable margin. These farmers were at the receiving end of all the discouragements and disappointments. The contention was that it is cheaper to export rice rather than grow here. Over the last few years that paddy farmers were compelled to take their lives when they could not meet this unhappy situation any longer. When they could not meet even with the cost some of them when they were unable to pay their loans with the harvest, they took away their lives. Food is an essential part of the human being and is needed to sustain life and it is also declared a human right. The right to food, whether it is bread or rice or any other grain, each human person has it on its own and not added on by some individual. It is inherent to his life which no one can take away without violating this basic right. Many of the Scripture religions do speak of the food. There are many stories of food distribution, sharing of food as a religious value. It is also seen as a means to grow in spirituality. When a person fasts or foregoes food it becomes a virtuous act. The State agencies and department can with international support seek ways and means for better paddy cultivation. They are obligated to look at maximum product of rice and at the same time look after the farmers who undergo untold hardships. The Ministry of Agriculture has a bounden duty to promote this concept of rice production, so that our people do not go hungry. The privatization policies have made created many problems among the small farmers to abandon their work. Closing down of many warehouses, seed farms and fertilizer distribution have caused many problems for these farmers. New and easy way of planting paddy proved successful, should be given the State sponsorship. There is also a new problem that will surface, that is the Genetically Engineered Rice Production or Genetically Modified food production scheme. Still no conclusive proofs have not been given yet for such endeavours. Further experimentation is need that such GM Rice production be used as normal. But at the same time in the world there is a greater attention paid to produce food, vegetables and fruits in organic manner devoid of chemical fertilizers. Bio-food production have become very popular in the developed world. Today many of us consume food with full of toxic elements. So because of this international year of rice, the civil society will be to discuss on these current topics. The NGOs and welfare organizations can plan accordingly not merely by organizing seminars and study days and take practical steps to promote rice production in a profitable manner. The groups are needed to look after the small paddy cultivators. Recently it was reported that the many farmers in the Pollonnaruwa District have decided to give up paddy cultivation and decided to abandon prime land, and it is not due to non-availability of resources but due to non-profitability. Such problems should be addressed in a methodical and planned manner. The NGOs and State Agencies must put their weight to bring these farmers back to the land, and work for the betterment of the food production by solving their perennial problems. |
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