National Food Week from June 22 to 28:

Encourage nutritious food

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Government has declared a National food Week from June 22 to 28.

"Our main purpose of declaring a National Food Week is to encourage people to take a balanced diet. It is sad to say that most of the people in society are not healthy.

They are suffering from various kinds of diseases. I think the main reason for this situation is bad food habits," said Agriculture Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara.

The opening ceremony of the National Food Week 2009 was held at the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute on Monday.

"In the past Sri Lankans used to eat rice for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also they added grains for their meals. They were lucky to eat foods without poison. Because of that they could work like giants.

But after Sri Lanka gained Independence, the situation has changed. Foreign food items were added to our local diet. People make their foods using wheat flour. This is not good for health. So we should pay our attention to encourage people to take nutritious foods for their meals.

That is why the Government has declared National Food Week Under the Mahinda Chinthanaya, on a concept of Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena.

Minister Nanayakkara said parents are now used to giving artificial food for children due to commercial advertisements. We have a fertile land and good weather conditions. We have sun light all over the year. So we can cultivate any kind of food in our country. But unfortunately, we import 33 food items which can be produced locally in our country. We have taken necessary steps to avoid importing these food items before the end of 2010.

"Our ministry is always ready to help farmers and encourage them to grow more food. If anyone has a problem relating to agriculture, he or she can resolve it by calling on telephone No. 1920 for free advice," he said.