IPHI to merge with foreign research institutes

H.D.H Senewiratne

The Institute of Post Harvest Technology, (IPHI) the premier institute engaged in agricultural research and development, is in the process of affiliating with foreign universities and research institutes to promote and provide high yielding planting material for local farmers which accounts to 70 % of the country's work force, sources said.

Currently, the majority of Sri Lankan farmer communities adopt bad agricultural practices or use wrong planting material, which ultimately evolves bad products, immediate past Deputy Chairman Institute of Post Harvest Technology Sarath de Silva said.

De Silva said that it was the need of the hour to go for new technology by putting aside outdated agricultural methods, to increase yields and its benefits to be passed to the people and also to the country.

He said that to produce high quality planting material, they were now having discussions with the Malaysian Institute of Agriculture and Research, Thai Institute of Agriculture and Packaging and also with Korean research agencies.

"We would be extending this new concept to other sectors, including paddy and the plantation sector as well, he said.

He said that local research had revealed that most of fruits and vegetables produced locally, have reduced and was in bad shape. This was mainly due to short comings of quarantine facilities and improper transportation, resulting in the loss of Rs 20 billion worth of fruits and vegetables.

He also said that they had also emphasized the importance of transporting fruits and vegetables through refrigerated trains which was more viable than transporting them via road. This new system would be implemented by 2013, he said.

The Ministry of Internal Trade and Cooperatives had found that over 30 % of the harvest of vegetables and fruits were wasted due to improper transportation methods costing the country nearly Rs. 20 billion per year.

The government enacted laws making it compulsory for farmers and traders to transport their vegetables and fruits in plastic or wooden crates. The law went into effect on January 15, 2012.