Govt to produce seeds

Priyanka Kurugala

The Agriculture Ministry has drawn up plans to produce all seed requirements of the country by 2013, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abewardena said. He said certain countries are trying to undertake the task of producing seeds for Sri Lanka. However, the Government will not give them any opportunity to carry out this national requirement, he said.

The Minister was addressing the media and the Seed Task Force members at the Agriculture Ministry yesterday. The report of the Seed Task Force was presented at this occasion.

“If this task succeeds, 60 percent of the total seed requirements of the country could be supplied by the Yala season. Therefore local companies should undertake the responsibility to produce seeds,” he said.

“We need the private sector support to reach our goals,” the Minister said.

Cultivating abandoned lands which could be used as farmlands is a national requirement. The Government will launch this task.

There are a number of small scale seed producers throughout the country. The Government has planned to empower them under this program.

The Government will give priority to local varieties under this program, he said.

According to the Seed Task Force committee report, members have identified significant crops to produce seeds under this proposal. These crops are cowpea, green gram, black gram, ground nuts, maize, big onion, potato, beans, banana and pineapple.

The Mahinda Chintana Idiri Dekma has recognized agriculture as the basic sector for the economic development.

The seed development has been given an important place in the agricultural development effort.

All Seed Task Force committee members participated.