Divi Neguma to face world food crisis

Disna MUDALIGE

The Divi Neguma islandwide program has been implemented under one million domestic units program of the government to face the emerging world food crisis, said Economic Development Deputy Minister Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena.

He said that 100 family units will be selected for this program from each Grama Niladari Division. The government will provide its contribution to them through Grama Niladari Officers, Samurdhi Development Officers, Agrarian Research and Development Assistants and Family Health Service Officers.

Necessary seeds varieties, fertilizer, technology, equipment and other assistance upto the value of Rs 10,000 will be supplied by the government for these family units.

The Minister noted that 18 Ministries will coordinate in this effort. Initially the program will be aimed for three years. Another 100 family units will be selected after a three years, he said. The Minister observed that Sri Lanka as a country that depends largely on agriculture cannot escape from the drastic impacts of climate change.

"About 200,000 hectares of paddy fields were inundated by the recent floods and 150,000 hectares out of this had been completely destroyed.

However, last year we could cultivate about 777,000 acres which is a record in Sri Lanka's history. We did not import rice throughout that year" he said. He pointed out that the loss of cultivations due to natural disasters is a common tragedy being experienced around the whole world.

According to United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (UNFAO) data, 231 units were recorded in the monthly food prices index which is the highest unit since 1990.

This unit is recorded when the price of an barrel of oil stable at USD 100.

UNFAO Economic Specialist Abdolreza Abbussaian has warned of a record food price increase if the drought in Argentina and extreme cold conditions in the Northern Pole persist, he revealed.