Research, technology vital for development

Extracts from the address by Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe at the third symposium on Plantation Crop Research held on September 30 and October 1, 2010

Research and technology development is essential for the development of the country. In the plantation sector, vast strides have been made through the adoption of technologies generated by the four crop research institutes. Many of problems faced by scientists are related to inadequate funding for the development of laboratory infrastructure and for the recruitment and training of scientists. During the past few decades many experienced scientists have left the institutes.

Need to reorient focus

We cannot think of the traditional model of economic development where success was measured in the volume of exports of tea, rubber and coconut, the number of the smallholder families that we sustain through the sector or the number of employment opportunities the sector has generated. If we are to ensure the contribution of this sector to Government’s development target of doubling the per capita income within next five years, we need to completely reorient our focus and introduce changes to science and technology development strategies to match future economic development needs.

High technology goods

The application of high end (or advanced) technologies have the capacity to add more value to raw material and hence provide a better return on products in comparison with the application of traditional technologies. The global market for high technology goods is growing at a faster rate than for other manufactured goods. During 1980-2003, high technology production grew at an inflation-adjusted average annual rate of nearly 6.4 percent compared with 2.4 percent for other manufactured goods.

In Asia, high technology manufacturing has grown dramatically over the past two decades led, first by Japan, in the 1980s then by South Korea, Taiwan and China in the 1990s Sri Lanka’s high-tech exports constitute only 1.5 percent of Sri Lanka’s manufactured exports, whereas these form a much higher proportion of manufactured exports in Thailand (27 percent), Malaysia (55 percent) and Singapore (57 percent). These countries therefore get a higher return and their products are more competitive in the world market.

High value products

Today, the plantation crop sector accounts for approximately 750,000 ha of land usage, generates a national income of about Rs 300 billion and also provides livelihood for around 1.5 million people. If we are to continue to merely export our tea mostly as bulk tea or rubber as raw rubber and coconut as desiccated coconut and coir in bulk, we will not be able to achieve the desired targets set by the Government to enable the people to enhance their livelihood and create more attractive jobs for the youth. We need to invest in research and development to innovate high value products. From tea, we may focus on products based on health-giving properties and instead of raw rubber exports, there is potential to further develop high value products. The potential to extract valuable chemicals from coconut has been insufficiently exploited. Instead of coir fibre exports, high value geo-textiles and value added activated carbon from charcoal may be the way forward to develop a vibrant coconut sub-sector.

During the last couple of decades, our primary research focus has been on productivity increase and crop protection. The time has come to invest in the development of high-tech advanced technology while also continuing research on current priority areas to ensure industry sustainability. Other countries are investing heavily on high value product development, eg current Australian research on sugar sector is to develop bio-degradable plastics from lignin, other chemical products, low-glycemic sugar by coating normal sugar with lignin extracted from the bark of the sugarcane.

China has already developed high value skin care products and many medicinal products from tea which are already being marketed. Our scientists are capable of undertaking such research, innovations and technology development, if the proper institutional framework and investment is made while rewarding the scientists and recognizing their contribution to the sector’s development.

Climate change and bio-security

Climate change and bio-security have become major global issues in agriculture where scientists are expected to study the impact of climate change on crop productivity while protecting crops from new pests and disease attacks. We are fortunate that our major crops like tea and rubber are not threatened by serious pests and diseases.

However, Weligama wilt in coconut has become a serious socio-economic with political overtones as economic losses directly impact the smallholder-based rural economy. Our scientists should remain alert to any new pests and disease outbreaks and work with international and quarantine authorities to ensure highest levels of bio-security.

Soil erosion

A major threat to the sustainability of agricultural productivity in Sri Lanka is serious soil erosion taking place at an alarming rate depriving the country the most valuable topsoil for agricultural sustainability.

Already a committee has been appointed to study the Soil Conservation Act, environmental regulations and the Tea Board Act and report on urgent action the Ministry should take to arrest soil erosion particularly in tea and rubber sectors in the context of tea being identified as a contributor to soil erosion.

There is a need for enhanced funding to revamp the research and development system. With the scale of investment required, it may be necessary to consider an overall Research and Development capacity building project, perhaps with support from multilateral funding agencies.

While requesting enhanced funding, researches must also be mindful of the need to bring about structural changes in their organizations to achieve better results. Most importantly, attitudinal changes among researchers to promote closer team effort and enhanced accountability in respect of the investment made is essential.

International partnerships

Laboratory facilities of the Sugarcane Research Institute in Uda Walawe are inadequate. The Institute should shift focus and immediately invest in a state of the art laboratory.

Having encouraged all crop research institutes to engage in a Science and Technology infrastructure and services modernization initiative, I have instructed all institutes to establish International Partnership for Science and Technology Development and capacity building through the establishment of Memoranda of Understanding. Progress has already been achieved by the Coconut Research Institute and Sugarcane Research Institute while the TRI and RRI are planning to expand on linkages they have already established.

Scientists must be conscious of the fact that future investment in research and development and application of research findings will bring economic benefits to the country only if private sector is brought in to commercialize innovations turning them into high value products.

Therefore, new approaches and new initiatives for partnership with private sector for investment in targeted research projects through a strong public/private partnership program should be encouraged.

I am prepared to explore any legal and other instrumentalities or modalities required to facilitate maximum benefits to the country's economic development through public/private partnership in research and development whereby scientists also could benefit by sharing profits. Crop Research Institutes' findings will deliver economic benefits to the country only if the research information and technology generated is adopted by the growers and other stakeholders of the industry.

Therefore, an efficient and effective extension system in respect of each crop is essential to reap maximum benefits of increased research investment.

While encouraging public/private partnership for commercial application of high end research, I have already advised the Ministry to initiate action to strengthen the extension capabilities of TSHDA, CCB and Rubber Development Department which are the extension agents under each crop.

The Sugarcane Research Institute Act is also being revised to enable it to expand its research mandate and include the responsibility for development, extension and regulation of the supply of certified seed cane to growers - which were not in the original act.

The President having recognized the importance of research and innovation has proposed a new science, technology and innovation governance modality by forming a Presidential Science, Technology and Innovation Council which he chairs himself.

This is encouraging news for all scientists in the country as the political leadership at the highest level has recognized the importance of science and technology for economic development.