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Thai help for Lanka's agriculture

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The Thai Government has signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the Sri Lankan Government to promote agricultural co-operation and further strengthen bilateral ties between the two countries.

The signing of these MoUs between the two countries: MoU between Sri Lanka and Thailand on Agricultural Co-operation and MoU on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures are expected to develop agri-business activities and provide Thai technical expertise and equipment to develop the local agriculture sector, Agriculture, Lands and Irrigation Minister Anura Kumara Dissanayake told the Daily News yesterday.

The Minister said he signed these two MoUs with Thai Agriculture and Co-operatives Minister Somsak Thepsuthin at the Government House, Thailand on July 30.

Dissanayake was among the top Sri Lankan delegation led by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga which visited Thailand last week on the Thai Government's invitation. Two official committees were also appointed to formulate the action plan required for the implementation of the policy decisions of these two MoUs signed by the two countries, the Minister said.

Dissanayake said under the MoU on agricultural co-operation, Sri Lankan agricultural products will be exported to Thailand which will directly help promote the local agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, the MoU signed by the two countries on the application of phytosanitary measures is expected to prevent the spreading of diseases when various plants and plant sections are imported to Sri Lanka.

Thailand also pledged to exchange technical expertise between the two countries relating to fruit and vegetable cultivation sectors. The Thai Government is also willing to further educate Sri Lankan officials on international laws relating to phytosanitary measures, the Minister said. Dissanayake on the Thai Government's invitation also visited the CP Group vegetable farm "Chia Tai Farm" at Karnchanaburi Province and a fruit juice production factory in Petchburi.

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