Home gardening concept results in excess food production -
minister
Rasika SOMARATHNA
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said that there was a
surplus of rice and vegetables in the country and steps would be taken
to export the excess and also sell them to processing industries, to
gain an additional income.
He said that this enhanced production was due to efforts taken by the
government to develop agriculture and promote self sufficiency among
public.
He said that the government was prepared to provide necessary support
to organizations which would like to be partners of the above efforts.
The minister expressed these views at a meeting with vegetable and
fruit cultivators, exporters and food processors, organized by the
National Council on Economic Development at the Ministry auditorium.
He said that the fertilizer subsidy given to farmers had resulted in
twin benefits, contributing to lowering of production cost and
increasing the yield.
The minister also pointed out that the reason for excess food
production was also due to the home gardening concept introduced by the
government.
While urging exporters to send the excess to foreign markets, he also
requested the owners of food processing industries to use local produce
instead of importing the same from abroad.
The minister also emphasized on the need to provide satisfactory
income generating avenues to farmers for their produce which he said
would encourage them to perform better.
The meeting was attended by Treasury and Economic Development
Ministry Secretary Dr.P.B.Jayasundera and other government officials. |