‘ Self sufficiency in rice, result of research’

Indunil Hewage

Food and nutrition security is believed to be a problem of underdevelopment and for Sri Lanka to achieve food security, the need for investment in science and technology cannot be over emphasized.

The present investment of 0.11 of the GDP must be raised gradually at least to around 2 %. While the private sector should increase its investment in research and development (R & D). The government should realize that continuous under funding in R & D could only jeopardize our chances of achieving economic advancement and realizing the vision of becoming the emerging Wonder of Asia, said Dr M C N Jayasuriya, Chairman, National Thematic Research Programme on Food Security, National Science Foundation.

“The present day self sufficiency in rice production in the country could indeed be attributed to this high investment in rice research, unfortunately this has not been the case with other cereal and field crops. If the country needs to meet the challenge of feeding the world over the next 40 years, Sri Lanka should balance the future demand and supply sustainably while ensuring adequate stability in the food supply.

Both these require high investment in research for modern technologies and their appropriate deployment,” Dr. Jayasuriya said. Buddhi Marabe, Professor in Crop Science and Director Agri Education Unit, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya said that Sri Lanka has achieved the cherished goal of self sufficiency in rice, making the country secure in its staple food.