|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Saturday, 20 March 2004 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Victor Marambage, Talawa group corr. The chairperson of the Centre for Society and Religion (CSR) Fr. Tissa Balasuriya, at a conference on agriculture held at the Centre said, up to now whichever the government in power has not provided a reasonable subsidy on fertilizer. Today urea is Rs. 1,100 per 50 kg. Government should increase the subsidy or pay a better price for agricultural products". By increasing production of phosphate based fertilizers at Eppawala and providing these to farmers at reasonable and bearable prices paddy production could be increased. Out of 7,000 acres of paddy land in Nachchaduwa 5,000 acres were destroyed due to drought. We spend Rs. 21,000 to cultivate paddy in one acre of land and reap only Rs. 23,000 worth of harvest. That is Rs. 2,000 for six months and without considering the labour of the farmer and the family. Billions of Rupees have been issued as loans to some companies and they are allowed to pay back only a fraction of it by the present government. But if a farmer defaults paying back a loan of Rs. 10,000 he is brought to court. T. B. Herath, Secretary, Rajarata United Farmers Association said, "All small tanks in the Anuradhapura district are in a state of disrepair. The spillways are cut or lowered. They are covered with weeds. But the North Central Provincial Council has constructed ponds using millions of rupees and of no use to public. There is no buyers for agro-products. No transport facilities, no stores. Prices of two-wheel tractors and other agricultural equipment is high. Why not free these from custom duties and VAT? Government does not advocate seed paddy production because it is under the hands of the multinational companies. "Political powers have issued permits to their stooges and businessmen. On reservations bordering tanks, our requests to survey and demarcate these reservations have fallen on deaf ears. Farmers should be issued with firearms, not to kill elephants but to protect their crop," Herath added. P. B. Nanhamy a farmer from Palugaswewa, Eppawala said that the market is inundated with foreign produce thus affecting local produce like paddy. Jayawardana of Andiambalama CSR farm said, "Only a fraction of rain water is harvested in Sri Lanka. If tanks are repaired and this water is diverted to affected areas we need not fear any drought. Only five per cent of paddy production is purchased by the government. This should be increased to 35 per cent. "When governments in Europe and USA pay incentives at US dollars 2 or 3 per cow, Sri Lanka is trying to levy taxes on water. M. P. Wijepala, District Officer, Department of Agrarian Services Colombo District promised to present these requests to those responsible. A large number of farmers and persons connected, attended the discussion. This was one of the discussions in a series organised by CSR. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
