Agriculture marketing program extended to N-E

L. S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

The agriculture and food marketing extension program implemented by the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research and Training Institute (HARTI) will be extended to Northern and Eastern provinces shortly.

The monitoring office of the agriculture and food market situation of HARTI will also be appointed to these provinces. They will develop efficient agricultural methods and the food marketing system in those areas after three decades, said HARTI Deputy Director, Dr. L. P. Rupasena.

HARTI, the main arm of the agriculture marketing and research in the country publishes monthly and weekly food information bulletins giving the latest market trends and the food prices in the country.

For nearly 10 years, HARTI could not obtain information from official sources from the North and the East due to the conflict.

According to the Deputy Director, the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) - had agreed to fund agriculture marketing extension project islandwide in 1993. Seventy five motorcycles for extension officers were provided under the FAO-HARTI agreement.

However, human and other resources allocated for Northern and Eastern provinces were not obtainable due to the inability to implement the project in those areas, he said.

The Northern and the Eastern provinces played a major role in the agriculture sector in the past.

The recent supplies of chillie and onion from these provinces to the Pettah market directly influenced the drop in prices of the varieties in the market, he said. "HARTI agricultural marketing extension system educates the farmer community on what to grow - how to grow, where to sell and at what price.

Paddy farmers of Polonnaruwa and other main agricultural districts obtained a high price of Rs. 35 per kilogram of paddy last year due to their vast experience of agriculture and marketing.

The majority of the population in the North and the East is engaged in agriculture. HARTI has a vital role to play in this regard, he said.

HARTI, head of the Marketing Division Dr. T. A. Dharmaratna said a team of Field Data Collection Officers serve in the Western Province and in the agricultural districts except in the North and the East to monitor the development of agriculture and food.