Lanka-India bilateral proposals vital for agricultural revival - Agricultural Development Minister

COLOMBO: Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena said one of the thrust areas of the Government is to develop capacities of scientific institutions for sustainable development of the Sri Lankan agricultural sector.

He said assistance provided by the Indian Government through the Indian Council for Agricultural Research is very much appreciated.

The Minister made these remarks at a meeting with the Union Minister of Agriculture of India Sharad Pawar and Indian delegation held in Colombo on May 24.

He said Sri Lanka and India has an excellent record of cooperation for several centuries, which could be shared with pride.

This cooperation has been in agriculture, science and technology,education and training, literacy, religious activities, tourism and trade. Sri Lanka and India also entered into the Indo-Lanka Trade Agreement recently.

The Minister said the cooperation in agriculture is more evident. The exchange of crop varieties, some of which are grown even today and training of agricultural scientists in the Indian agricultural universities since Independence are classic examples of such cooperation.

These kinds of cooperation had an impact on the socio-economic fabric of our society.

Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy and Indian Council for Agricultural Research have also signed a memorandum of understanding in 1998 to foster agricultural development.

"I have been informed that this agreement has been successfully implemented through three work plans signed at different times.

Significant achievements have been made in postgraduate training of our scientists in Indian universities and research institutions" he said.

India has also benefited through short-term training of their scientists and consultancies, the Minister added.

India has made remarkable economic progress recording over eight per cent economic growth in the recent years, virtually becoming an dominant producer and exporter of staple foods, fruits and vegetable and many other processed products. Knowledge based technology application has been the key to this development.

"Therefore Sri Lanka will immensely benefit by strengthening further cooperation in agriculture, livestock and other fields."

The Minister said:" The main objective of this meeting is to provide a forum to discuss areas of further cooperation in agriculture and related fields, which will have prominent impact on both countries.

It is necessary to clearly identify the fields of mutual interest and design appropriate means of implementation. I have no doubt that the experts will be able to accomplish that."

"I firmly believe that the proposals which will be considered under the areas of cooperation will not only benefit our agricultural sectors, but it will also act as an effective instrument to strengthen the long standing friendly relations between the two countries and people," the Minister said.