National food production drive a boost to economy

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The National Food Production Drive, under the Mahinda Chinthana policy Api Wawamu Rata Nagamuhas changed the thinking of farmers and even householders to contribute their share to the national economy. As more people take to agriculture, it would become a possibility to achieve self sufficiency in food policy.

With the introduction of new agricultural programs under the Mahinda Chinthana most of the problems that local farmers had to face were solved. They suffered from lack of water and without having proper land to do their cultivation of crop. They also had to face problems as they couldn't sell their products at a good price. Harvesting losses, high prices of fertilizer were other major problems that local farmers had to face.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has always encouraged local farmers through the national food production drive Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu (Let's cultivate and uplift the nation). Because of this massive cultivation program most of the people try to get maximum use of their home gardens. They grow fruits and vegetables for their consumption. By introducing this national principle to enhance local food production, the Government has spent more than Rs 141,322 million for the development of the agriculture sector from 2005 to 2009. Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu program has motivated the agricultural trend among people to cultivate food for their daily consumption.

Environmental friendly cultivation

Home gardening enthusiast. File photo

Homegarden development can be considered as a tool to address the existing problems of the escalating Cost of Living, malnutrition and food insecurity. Under this program, cultivation of vegetables, fruits, yams and herbal plants will be encouraged to meet daily needs of the people. This constitutes cultivating food according to the family need, promoting production of chemical-free food through environmental-friendly cultivation methods, promotion of family nutrition, health and family income. Attention will also be paid to the capacity of the family to invest, provide labour and their dedication shown in developing the homegarden. Furthermore, landowners are encouraged to use organic fertilizer as far as possible. Homegardening paves the way for minimizing the losses during transport of goods between the producer and the consumer.

As the Government increase the selling price of one kilo of paddy from Rs 9-12 to Rs 28-35, provide seed paddy at a reasonable price and because of the fertilizer subsidy, introduction of new soft loan facilities, the Government could enhance the extent of cultivated lands from 337,000 hectares to 1,053,000 hectares.

The basis for higher productivity is the use of high quality seed and planting material. However provision of large quantity of seed and planting material instantly required for an accelerated food production drive would be practically difficult. Therefore priority will be given to the provision of seed packs required for home gardening and take action for an accelerated purchasing program for seeds of paddy and other field crops from areas where they have been grown already. Arrangements will be made to provide these seed stocks at a low price as commercial seeds by testing only the germination percentage.

Apart from paddy cultivation government gave priority for other crops also. As the government invest Rs. 2,805 million in 2005 to enhance the potato, onion, chilly, fruit, maize and vegetables production. Red Chillie production was 13,200 metric tons in 2005 to 51,100 metric tons and maize production from 41,800 metric tons to 1,125,000 metric tons.

Because of the development programs which were held in 13 districts at the cost of Rs. 460 million to provide better price for those who cultivate export agricultural crops like pepper, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg exports earned Rs. 16,664 million in year 2008. In the year 2005, it was only Rs 9,575 million. The country could earn Rs 4,225 million in year 2008 by exporting fruits and vegetables. It was an increase of Rs 1,463 million rupees than year 2005.

The Government has spent Rs.107, 537 million for the fertilizer subsidy throughout the past four years. Under this fertilizer subsidy 50 kilos of fertilizer were given at Rs 350 to farmers. Under seeds program farmers could get high quality seeds at a subsidized price and the Government spent Rs.77 million for this program. Also the Government could enhance the productivity of local agriculture by providing water at the necessary time.

Economic aspects

Agriculture has always been deeply related with the social, cultural and economic aspects of Sri Lankan history. However, the growth rate of agriculture remains at a low ebb compared to the industrial and services sectors at present. Its contribution to the GNP during the 2006 was 16.5 percent which includes plantations, fisheries and forestry sectors. Out of the total population of approximately 20 million, 32 percent are directly involved in agriculture for their livelihood. Around 70 percent of the rural population depends on agriculture and 25 percent to 30 percent of them still live far below the poverty line. Besides, per capita consumption of many food items remains below the minimum nutritional requirement level while 30 percent of the rural children below five years, suffer from malnutrition. Yet 32 percent of the country's food requirement is imported at a cost of nearly Rs 100 billion per year. In 2006, approximately a sum of Rs 49 billion has been spent on food imports which includes supplementary food crops and fruits excluding milk, fish and sugar.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa participating at a Vap Magul ceremony under Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu program. File photo

In the context of the current economic situation of the country, it is difficult to spend such a colossal amount of money on food imports when we are capable of producing many such food items locally.

Under this situation, contribution from the agricultural sector for the development of the country should be increased and in order to achieve this, an islandwide accelerated program was launched for local food production namely, 'Deshiya Ahara Nishpadana Diri Genvime Jathika Meheyuma' (National campaign to motivate domestic food production) under the theme,' Api Wawamu-Rata Nagamu ' through short and long term strategies. The program continues over a period of three years (2007-2010) and commenced in 2007/08 Maha season.

Food crops

Increase the production of essential food crops, enhance contribution of agriculture to the GNP, ensure food and nutrition security of the people, improve consumption pattern of the people, reduction of foreign exchange spent on food imports annually, dissemination of modern and appropriate technologies, increase youth involvement in agriculture and promotion of environment-friendly and local/traditional agricultural methods are main objectives of this program.