PARLIAMENT

To provide fertilizer subsidy to farmers:

Govt has allocated Rs 40,000 m

Parliament Corrs

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa presided when Parliament met at 1.00 pm yesterday. After the presentation of papers and oral questions, the House took up the Regulations under the Regulation of Fertilizer Act No 68 of 1988 for debate.

Agrarian Services Minister S M Chandrasena: said a large number of persons had got themselves registered and obtained licenses to produce, import and process fertilizer but licenses were not actively engaged in.

Therefore, the Govt has decided to increase the licensing fee for producing, importing and processing fertilizer from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.

He said that the increased amount would not be charged from organic fertilizer producers.

Anura Kumara Dissanayake (DNA): Said the majority of the people of this country were engaged in agriculture. If the Government needed to eradicate rural poverty, measures should be taken to develop agriculture.

It would also help uplift the living standards of the rural community. Today many subjects relevant to agriculture, such as agrarian service, water resource management, paddy purchasing and irrigation were under the preview of different Ministries. Farmers had to face great difficulties due to this.

All activities relevant to agriculture, cultivation and farming, should come under the purview of one Ministry.

Agricultural Insurance Board was under the purview of the Finance Ministry, while activities of the Paddy Marketing Board was being coordinated by the Trade Ministry.

This situation was not conducive to the country’s agriculture sector. You cannot develop agriculture in this country and uplift the livelihood of farmers without the change of these policies and decisions.

There should be a proper method of distributing water among the farmers. There were many minor tanks and large-scale reservoirs in the country. Our ancient kings built these reservoirs to utilise their water for cultivation, specially during the dry season. But the Government attempts to utilise reservoirs to promote tourism without providing sufficient water for cultivation. This has resulted in discouraging the farmers from cultivation. He said that many reservoirs had been proposed to be leased to tourist companies to operate boat services, many lands that were utilised for cultivation would be handed over for the construction of hotels. Such decisions would ruin the agriculture sector in this country.

The Government has failed in providing good prices for paddy farmers. Paddy farmers were now giving up cultivation as a result.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene: The Government has granted massive relief to farmers by providing them with fertilizer subsidy. The Government has allocated nearly Rs 40,000 million annually to provide them with fertilizer subsidy.

Our paddy production has been increased by 104 percent despite negative impacts caused by heavy rains in recent past.

We consider all farmers in this country as kings. Today the income of farmers have been increased in a considerable manner. Prices of cinnamon has increased up to Rs 1,000 while rubber producers were getting around Rs 750 for their rubber.

This was a big achievement. We have planned to provide fertilizer subsidy freely to farmers in the future.

The Mahailuppallama Research Institute has produced high quality seeds. We have planned to develop our traditional seeds production to protect ourselves.

The Government has already taken steps to recommence the functions of seed producing farmers which was closed down due to the war in the North and East. Today Jaffna farmers yield a bumper harvest of beetroot and onions.

A large quantity of beetroot and onions daily arrive at the Dambulla Economic Centre from Jaffna.

Prices of these items have now been slashed in the market.

There was a State-run program to cultivate crops in home gardens. This too would pave the way for the supply of fresh vegetables to the people at lower rates.

The agriculture sector has been developed at a large scale which was not experienced in the recent past.

Plans are underway to produce highbrid seeds within the the country.

This move would definitely help produce high quality crops in the country.

P Harison (UNP): Fertilizer subsidies should be provided to all types of farmers, irrespective of what they cultivate.

It was reported that farmers had not properly used the fertilizer subsidy on several occasions. Many farmers had sold their fertilizer subsidy to other persons.

Action must be taken to ensure the proper use of the fertilizer subsidy among the farmers. It was necessary to produce various types of seed which gives high quality crops.

Earlier, we had a high quality chilli plantation which does not exist today. It is also necessary to utilize innovative technology to improve the crop harvest in the country.

Deputy Health Minister Lalith Dissanayake: The DNA was unable to complain against the Government as the Government had reached its targets.

“We still give the farmers the fertilizer subsidy. What was the farmers’ request today? They request for the fertilizer at the rate of Rs 1,000 for other types of cultivations where the subsidy was not given earlier. Our Government was considering granting that relief to them as well.

What was the result of these reliefs? The maize was cultivated on a land with an extent of 23,430 hectares in 2004. The extent was increased to 48,990 hectares by 2010.

The production of maize was 127,260 metric tons by 2011. It was an increase of 82,060 metric tons of maize production compared to 2004.

P Ariyanethiran (TNA): Our country is an agricultural country. During the last flood catastrophy, more than 200,000 acres of paddy fields had gone under water. In my district Batticaloa, around 143,000 acres of paddyfields were damaged. There was no mechanism to insure those farmers and there was no way for them to get any compensation for their devastated crops.

Ranjith de Soyza (UPFA): These regulations made by Agrarian Services Minister S M Chandrasena was timely. The provision of fertilizer subsidy was the initial measure taken by this Government to boost the ‘green revolution’. But when this Government suggested to give fertilizer at a rate of Rs 350, the Opposition criticized it.

The Opposition stated that it was something impossible. The subsidy was given to paddy cultivation, tea estates and many others.

The Opposition reluctantly had to accept that the paddy harvest was increased from 26,000 million metric tons to 40,000 million metric tons with the grant of fertilizer subsidy to the farmers. Today the farmers have become rich.

During the UNP regime, the Government farms were sold. They tried to construct golf courses in paddyfields.

But today, they demand for more fertilizer subsidies to farmers. It was noted in the Hansard that those days, during the UNP regime, the farmers had to sell 3 kilos of paddy to purchase a cake of soap. But today, under this UPFA Government, I wish to question as to how many cakes of soap could be bought when one kilo of paddy was sold? This is the ‘Wonder of Asia’ that empowered the farmer.

Akila Viraj Kariyawasam (UNP): Encourage of the production of organic fertilizer was necessary to build up a healthy society. But during this debate, Government members attempted to devastate agriculture in this country. But it was not fair. We should remember many reservoirs such as the Rantabe, Inginimitiya, etc were constructed by the UNP. Although a large amount of money was allocated for fertilizer subsidy, a major part of it was not going into the hands of the farmer.

Mrs Sudarshani Fernandopulle takes the Chair.

Arundika Fernando (UPFA): This regulation was timely.

The production of organic fertilizer is encouraged while the licence price of inorganic fertilizer producers was revised. Today the Government has taken many measures to protect the farmers in this country. Our Government has protected the cultivating lands of the farmers. Thereafter the Government has initiated many projects to construct reservoirs such as the Deduru Oya, Uma Oya, Moragahakanda, etc to provide water to the farmers. The other need of the farmers was fertilizer and the Government was providing a fertilizer subsidy.

Now even the Opposition has accepted that the country was self-sufficient with rice. No Government was able to provide relief to the coconut cultivator. But our Government has decided to provide coconut fertilizer to the cultivators.

*************

Jayantha Ketagoda sworn-in

Jayantha Ketagoda, yesterday took oaths as Democratic National Alliance (DNA) Member of Parliament before Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa.

He was allocated a seat in the third row of Opposition.

*************

Speaker to investigate assault on TNA MP

Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa yesterday stated that he would conduct an investigation into the incident where Jaffna TNA MP S Sritharan was assaulted at Nochchiyagama on Monday.

The Speaker made this observation in response to a privilege matter raised by MP Sritharan in Parliament yesterday. The Speaker also stated that a report on the incident would be submitted to Parliament. MP Sritharan stated that his vehicle was attacked at Nochchiyagama on his way to Colombo from Jaffna.

He also stated that his security guards retaliated and the attackers retreated.

*************

MP Karunanayake was in charge of CWC outlets

Chief Government Whip and Water Supply and Drainage Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, yesterday stated that the question as to whether an investigation should be held to find out who completely destroyed the CWE, raised by MP A H M Azwer, will be directed to Co-operatives and Internal Trade Minister.

He made this observation in response to a question for oral answers in Parliament. Minister Gunawardena further stated that MP Ravi Karunanayake was the Minister in charge of the institution when retail outlets of CWE were kept open for 24 hours. The Minister also said that there were about 55 employees at Sathosa Management Services Company which was an affiliated company of the CWE and it was reported that some of these employees were attached to the Minister’s office.

*************

Import licence to increase from Rs 5,000 to 25,000

Agrarian Services Minister S M Chandrasena, told Parliament yesterday that the licence fee for producing, importing and processing of fertilizer would be increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 25,000.

He said that the large number of persons who had got themselves registered and obtained licences to produce, import and process fertilizer, were not engaged in those activities properly, and it had been decided to increase the licence fee. The increased fee would be charged from those who have already obtained licences for the current year, he added.

However, there would be no charge levied from organic manure producers, he further said.

*************

[ Adjournment]

Sea planes won’t land in Negombo Lagoon

Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Minister Rajitha Senaratne yesterday stated in Parliament that there was no project initiated to land sea planes in Negombo Lagoon.

He also stated that after discussion with all relevant parties, including the fisher folk, the project was withdrawn. Minister Senaratne made this observations in response to an adjournment motion moved by UNP MP Dr Jayalath Jayawardena.

Minister Senaratne stated that these motions moved on projects that were not executed, were time consuming.

Chief Opposition Whip John Amaratunga seconded the motion.

Dr Jayalath Jayawardene (UNP): Said that according to the Government the country’s food production had been increased. But the theory is when the production is increased, the prices of food items should be decreased. We never experienced the low prices of food items in recent past. The Government is uttering lies.

Ordinary masses in this country could not bear up these increased prices. They face greater hardships. Malnutrition is very high today. The Government has failed in providing nutritious packs to pregnant mothers. It should pay utmost attention to alleviate malnutrition in the country.

V K Indika (UPFA): Prices of minor export crops have gone up. Today Cinnamon and pepper farmers receive the best prices for their products.

The fertilizer subsidy has been extended to rubber cultivation as well. The rubber industry will be boosted with this concession.

We have never heard of any other country which provides fertilizer subsidy to their farmers. We will continue to provide fertilizer subsidy for all types of farmers whatever crops they cultivate. Cinnamon cultivation has been extended to every corner of this country.

Today we are marching forward to achieve our set targets. The Government has taken measures to use organic fertilizer. This move will help Sri Lanka to march towards a healthy nation.

A H M Azwar (UPFA): Many revolutions had taken place in many countries. The greater revolution in the recent past was the providing of fertilizer subsidy to farmers by spending huge sums of money under President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Government.

He said the Govt would continuously provide fertilizer subsidy to the farmers.

The Mahinda Chinthanaya was the document which was internationally recognized. It had been accepted internationally. People around the world were very interested in reading it. Therefore, we have taken measures to print it in the English medium.

Today every Sri Lankan thinks that I am Sri Lankan. Today we have become a very proud nation in the world. President Mahinda Rajapaksa has transformed his garden into an agricultural beauty. Schoolchildren visit this garden which is full of vegetables, fruits and grains.

We need to see this situation, in every home garden in this country. Today the country is marching on the correct path. We are in the process of providing our own lessons to other countries on how to eliminate terrorism.

A H M Azwer takes the Chair

Agrarian Services Minister S M Chandrasena: The quality of fertilizer subsidy has not gone down, but the fertility of soil can be changed due to the use of chemical fertilizer. That is why we advise farmers to use the organic fertilizer.

We will continue to provide the fertilizer subsidy which is not only helping farmers, but also increasing food production. We have extended the fertilizer subsidy for coconut cultivation as well. The fertilizer subsidy is also provided to fruits, vegetables and grains cultivation as well.

A large number of minor and major tanks had been destroyed due to the heavy rains. We have already started to rehabilitate 300 tanks.

The House adjourned until 1.00 pm today.