Separate Authority to purchase paddy planned - Ratnasiri

BY L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy

MINISTER of Buddha Sasana, Agriculture, Law and Order and Public Security and Deputy Minister of Defence Ratnasiri Wickremanayake said at the 7th annual symposium of the Department of Agriculture that the government was planning to set up a separate authority to purchase paddy, other grains, fruit and vegetables produced by farmers in view to help the farmer get a good price for their produce.

Minister Wickremanayake was the chief guest at the symposium which took place at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre in Gannoruwa, Peradeniya recently. Deputy Director General of the Asia Vegetable Research and Development Centre, Taiwan, Dr. Jacqueline Hughes, Director General of Agriculture, Dr. C. Kudagamage and Chairman Symposium Dr. Hemal Fernando inaugurated the event.

Minister Wickremanayake said the existing purchasing system of paddy and other produce of farmers had many shortcomings and the necessity has arisen to set up a separate authority under the Department of Agriculture to undertake that task in order to ensure a reasonable price to the farmer for their produce.

At present the responsibility of purchasing paddy has been taken over by the government and it is being implemented through cooperatives. But this system has many shortcomings and therefore it had become necessary to establish a separate authority to implement an effective machinery.

Minister Wickremanayake praised the farmers, agriculture scientists and other agricultural and agrarian services officials for having played a significant role in increasing the production in the past and at present.

All the research that is being done should ultimately benefit the farmer to help increase production. In view of the close monitoring of various aspects and meeting the needs of farmers, they had been able to achieve better production.

It had been practice of many agriculture scientists to leave the country looking for greener pastures under various pretexts. That exodus of agriculture scientists and technologists, at a time when their services were very much in need was a great loss to the nation. He appealed to those scientists to change their minds and serve their motherland.

"Of course there could be various problems and difficulties to them. But those problems could be resolved through negotiations," added Minister Wickremanayake.

It was due to the interests and dedication of farmers, agriculture scientists and other officials that the country had been able to achieve self-sufficiency in rice to a considerable extent. He also emphasised the need to get the participation of the private sector in their quest to increase production.

Each citizen of this country consumes 100 kilograms of rice per year. The population growth has to be taken into account too.

Therefore, increasing production is paramount, added Minister Wickremanayake. The keynote address was delivered by Deputy Director General Asia Vegetable Research and Development Centre, Thailand and Dr. Jacqueline Hughes. Director General of Agriculture Dr. C. Kudagamage and Chairman ASDA Dr. Hemal Fernando also spoke.

A large number of agriculture scientists and students participated in this three-day symposium.