Maize export continuing says Yapa

Export order for 6,000 mts from Brunei

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The government has exported 1,985 metric tons of maize while an export order for 6,000 metric tons of maize has been received from Brunei, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said rejecting claims by the opposition that the government had stopped exporting maize. " We cannot export the whole stock at once," the minister said. The government has taken a number of measures to enhance the quality of food crops. Budgetary allocations have already been made for this, Abeywardena said.

Addressing the media at the Information Department on Friday, Minister Abeywardane said the government's aim was to ensure food security in the country. "Hence, the government started a number of agriculture development programmes," he said. "We have plenty of food in the country and it is necessary to enhance the quality of food to produce a healthy generation. The government allocated a large amount of funds to promote organic farming. The government has taken measures to offer a certified price of Rs 40 for paddy cultivated using organic fertiliser and provide a 50 kilogram organic fertiliser pack at a certified price of Rs.400," the minister said. He said the government has also taken measures to stop the importation of a number of agro crops by 2015 and introduce cultivation insurance for farmers receiving the fertiliser subsidy. The minister said the ministry will take measures to remove all direct and indirect taxes on the promotion and distribution of natural pesticides and organic fertiliser.

"We also plan to develop seed farms and promote fruit and vegetable cultivation and introduce modern technologies to make these ventures attractive to youths," he said.

The government allocated Rs 1,000 million to provide compensation to farmers affected by the drought and also set apart Rs 500 million to rehabilitate stores of both the Paddy Marketing Board and Cooperatives.