Indigenous food production drive going apace - Minister Sirisena

Uditha KUMARASINGHE

Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday stressed on the importance of the national food production drive “ Api Wawamu Rata Hadamu (Let’s grow to build the nation) launched by the Government to promote the country’s indigenous food crops that has turned into vigorous national campaign during the past six months.

This national food production drive was ceremonially launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the National Youth Centre, Maharagama on September 03, 2007. Since its inception, this national programme has spread countrywide with wide public participation irrespective of political differences. It has brought immense satisfaction to the people, he said.

The Minister made these observations at a special seminar organised to educate the representatives of the farmer organisations and agriculture officials of the Colombo district regarding the Government’s national food production drive.

A Presidential Task Force has also been set up to successfully implement this programme countrywide. This task force will meet under the patronage of the President next week. The Ministry officials of all Ministries connected to this national programme will also participate in this Task Force meeting, he said.

Minister Sirisena said the Indian Government extended its fullest cooperation towards this national endeavour during the SAARC Agriculture Ministers’ Conference held in India recently.

Indian High Commissioner Alok Prasad said this national endeavour launched under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa will turn into a great dimension that would uplift the Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector. Sri Lanka will also be able to share the Indian experience to promote this food production drive.

“It is vital to promote economic cooperation within the South Asian region. India is always keen to assist our neighbouring countries. Since India gained the Independence, during the regime of our first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the country took a number of measures to develop the irrigation sector and uplift agriculture productivity.”

India succeeded in being self sufficient in agriculture due to various endeavours taken to promote the agriculture sector. Agriculture directly leads to increase in productivity.

At present many developed countries have given various kinds of subsidies to their farmers. The agriculture sector is so important to developing countries like Sri Lanka and India, he said.

India will extend its continuous support to Sri Lanka to enhance the researches and training activities in the agriculture sector. This will also help to enhance food security in Sri Lanka, he added.