Boom in agriculture sector

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The country's agricultural production has reached the peak due to the success of the cultivation programmes such as the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu and Divi Neguma programmes introduced under the Mahinda Chinthanaya, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S M Chandrasena said.

Minister S M Chandrasena

The Agriculture Ministry has taken a number of measures to encourage farmers to cultivate more

"People who queued up to buy rice in the past, are now queuing up to sell their paddy," he said participating at a research symposium at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute recently.

Chandrasena said some people only talk about the people who are waiting to sell their harvest and never talk about the reason for this.

"Food security is essential for the protection of the nation. As the President realised the value of it, he established three ministries to develop the country's agriculture sector. The Agriculture Ministry has taken a number of measures to encourage farmers to cultivate more and also get the maximum use of the agricultural produce," he said.

"The Agrarian Services Ministry provides technical and financial assistance and subsidies such as fertiliser subsidy to farmers for cultivation. The Minor Small Export Crop Promotion Ministry has taken measures to provide assistance to the people to produce value added food products to meet the export demand," he said.

"If a country's agriculture sector is at its peak, there is no need to worry about the country's future. In some countries when oil prices are increased, the prices of food items are also increased. We didn't experience this in Sri Lanka," he said.

The minister also said that Sri Lanka is now self- sufficient in rice and maize.

"The country also has a surplus of vegetables and fruits. Farmers are complaining that they cannot sell their paddy at a good price. The main reason for this is the bountiful harvest," he said.