Former Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation Mahinda Amaraweera has handed over his official residence in Paget Road, Colombo to Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya in Colombo, it was reported.

The former minister vacated his official residence today in line with the recent regime change.

Speaking to the media, Mahinda Amaraweera said the proposal to hand over the residence to Sirimavo Bandaranaike Vidyalaya had been presented by him to the former government. 

Stating that Cabinet approval had been granted by the former government, he said that all necessary documentation had been completed for the transfer which now allows the school to use the building. (Newswire)

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A farmer from Welimada has made a novel innovation creating a Chilli-flavoured ice cream in Sri Lanka. 

Lasantha Ruwan Lankathileke has produced the ice cream under the technical and financial contribution of the Agricultural Sector Modernization Program provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries.

The newly produced ice cream was offered to Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera and State Minister of Agriculture Mohan Priyadarshana De Silva.

This chilli-flavoured ice cream which is introduced to the market as a value-added product contains a mixture of sweetness and chilli, introducing a new flavour. 

It has been produced by researching the recipe under the guidance of Uva University’s Faculty of Food Science and Technology. 

The ice cream which has introduced two types of products for children and adults is expected to be released to the market soon. (Newswire)

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Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera says measures are being taken to address the rise in the price of coconut oil in the market.

Minister Amaraweera revealed that currently, the government charges Rs.150 per litre of imported coconut oil. 

He further said that as the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, he will propose a reduction of this amount to the Cabinet. 

Stating that as per the Coconut Development Authority, Sri Lanka’s annual coconut oil requirement is 25,868 metric tons, the minister said currently, there are 51,457 metric tons of coconut oil available.

Minister Amaraweera made these remarks during a press briefing held at the Presidential Media Centre on Wednesday (June 26). (Newswire)

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A 36% drop in King coconut (Thambili) exports has been reported due to the damages caused by white flies to King coconut cultivations in Sri Lanka, the Coconut Development Authority reported.

According to the Authority, the damage caused by white flies that have spread around the coconut plantation has also had a severe impact on the King coconut plantation.

It is observed that the King coconut planation has suffered more damage compared to the coconut cultivation, as white flies are largely attracted to yellow/ orange colour.

The Coconut Development Authority pointed out that the drought conditions experienced in the past had led to the spread of white flies. 

The Authority disclosed the facts during a recent meeting with the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera.

It was further revealed that large-scale damage had been prevented due to the preventive measures taken in 2023 at a cost of Rs. 80 million. 

Stating that 200 containers consisting of 15 million King coconuts are exported per year, the Authority said an income of US$ 0.80 or Rs. 250 per King coconut is being received at present. (Newswire)

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Former President Maithripala Sirisena has sent a Letter of Demand (LoD) to Minister Mahinda Amaraweera over recent alleged defamatory statements against him.

In his LoD, Maithripala Sirisena states Minister Amaraweera had made defamatory statements to the media, claiming that he had sought Rs. 100 million from a businessman willing to contest as the Presidential candidate of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP). 

He further states that Minister Amaraweera had also made defamatory statements concerning the recent SLFP Executive Committee meeting chaired under his patronage. 

Maithripala Sirisena has demanded compensation of Rs. 1 billion from Mahinda Amaraweera for the inconvenience caused to him via the latter’s statements. (Newswire)

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Sri Lanka is set to explore the cultivation of one of the world’s most popular pineapple varieties, MD 2 or Super Sweet pineapple (Ananas Comosus).

According to Daily News, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Department of Agriculture to give immediate recommendations for the cultivation of the said pineapple variety in Sri Lanka.

Stating that Sri Lanka is known for its own pineapple variety and has a great demand in the world market, the minister said the MD 2 pineapple variety, which also has a great demand in the world market, has never been cultivated in Sri Lanka. 

Minister Amaraweera further revealed that under the Agriculture Sector Modernization Program, research conducted on the cultivation of this pineapple variety, which has a sweet taste and minimum acidity, in Sri Lanka has been successful.

On the recommendations of the Crop Release Committee, the minister has advised the Department of Agriculture to provide the necessary recommendations regarding the cultivation process of the new type of pineapple in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Three key Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) officials have been removed from their positions within the party. 

It is reported that the decision has been taken by the Chairman of the party and former President Maithripala Sirisena.

Accordingly, MP Duminda Dissanayake (National Organiser), State Minister Lasantha Alagiyawanna (Treasurer) and Minister Mahinda Amaraweera (Senior Vice Chairman) have been removed from the positions they held within the party.

The decision in this regard was announced during the SLFP meeting held today (Mar 30). (NewsWire)

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The Gazette notification allowing the import of several spices, including pepper and turmeric, for re-exporting has been revoked.

The Gazette has been revoked following a request by Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera from the President at the last Cabinet meeting.

According to Lankadeepa newspaper, the government had recently issued a Gazette allowing the re-exporting of several Sri Lankan-grown spices, such as pepper, nutmeg, turmeric, ginger, and cardamom.

However, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera is reported to have opposed the Gazette at the recent Cabinet meeting.

At the meeting, the minister pointed out that allowing the import of these spices, especially for re-export, discourages the local spice farmers and will also result in the collapse of the cultivation of local spice products.

He also revealed that this will have a strong impact on the quality of spices in Sri Lanka, which currently ranks first among the world’s best spice brands.

Taking into consideration these facts, the Cabinet of Ministers led by the President had decided to revoke the relevant Gazette and to suspend the import of spices to Sri Lanka for re-export. (NewsWire)

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The project to export Sri Lankan king coconuts (Thambili) for Rs. 2000 per fruit has been initiated, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera announced.

The minister made the announcement while participating in the event held to inaugurate the second king coconut cultivation village near Raluwa village in Murutawela.

The move comes following the establishment of the first king coconut cultivation village in lower Murutawela last year. 

It is expected to plant nearly 10,000 king coconut plants covering both the cultivation villages. 

Minister Amaraweera revealed that having exported nearly 252,000 king coconuts to the UAE weekly, the industry generated an income of Rs. 2 billion in 2022.

He further said that king coconuts are sold for between Rs. 1500 and Rs. 2000 in Gulf countries, including the UAE.

Stating that there was no competition from any country in the world for Sri Lankan king coconuts, the minister said that now the competition was between Sri Lankan businessmen. (NewsWire)

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A probe has been conducted to identify those posting offensive comments on social media pertaining to the recent death of the former Minister of State for Water Supply Sanath Nishantha.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the probe had revealed that people connected to one particular political party were behind the offensive comments.

The minister told reporters that the individuals were found posting such offensive comments on a regular basis and under fake accounts.

Minister Amaraweera said that this incident, along with other instances such as violations against children and women, shows that social media requires to be regulated to some extent. (NewsWire)

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The public has been urged to maintain home gardens to mitigate the high prices of vegetables in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said that heavy rains experienced in the past have destroyed several vegetable plantations.

The minister said this has resulted in the high prices being charged for vegetables at present.

Speaking to reporters, he said, he had issued a warning earlier that continuous heavy rains would result in such a situation.

The minister, therefore, encouraged the public to focus on maintaining a home garden with the basic necessities, such as chillies, tomatoes, and various greens. 

“Several people are scolding me and the Agriculture Ministry for the price hike. People need to understand the effects of the heavy rains on vegetable plantations. Laying blame on one another will not solve the problem,” he said.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera added that as a solution, the public must focus on maintaining a home garden. (NewsWire)

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Sri Lanka has exported its first batch of low-salt, dried fish and fish chips (Maldive fish) produced using a new method, the air condition dehydration system.

According to Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, moving away from the traditional method of drying fish on the beach in the sun, the new technology helps the fish, usually a type of tuna, be dried or processed, using ‘air condition dehydration’.

“With this method, we can present dried fish products that are very suitable for human consumption to the market. This will give us the foreign exchange that the country needs,” he said.

The Minister said as this method retains the fish oils, the quality of dried fish produced is of a higher level.

Minister Amaraweera pointed out that this new dehydration method can be used for several other products in the country as well.

The export of the first container of 10,000 kg of dried fish and fish chips using the new technology was done on Sunday (Jan 14) by Megafish, a company in Pahajjawa in the Southern Province.

The batch of dried fish and fish chips produced in Sri Lanka will be exported to Australia and Korea, making it the first such export to be done by Sri Lanka. (NewsWire)

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China is still keen on receiving monkeys from Sri Lanka, Minister for Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera said. 

Speaking in Parliament today (Jan 09), Minister Amaraweera said during his recent visit to China, private zoo companies had expressed their hopes of acquiring the Sri Lankan toque macaque monkeys.

“The private Chinese zoo companies are still looking forward to acquiring Sri Lankan monkeys for exhibition purposes. There are around 20,000 private zoos in China. However, we are unable to move forward due to the actions of animal activists and organizations,” he said. 

The minister also pointed out the court case filed against this move, resulting in a court order being issued prohibiting the export of Sri Lankan monkeys to China. 

Emphasizing that monkeys were a key cause for the destruction of crops, including nearly 700 million coconuts a year, Minister Amaraweera said the government will now have to look into alternative ways to address crop destruction. 

The minister proposed in Parliament for the Ministries of Defence and Wildlife Conservation to provide a solution for the destruction of crops by certain wild animals. (NewsWire)

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The government has decided to suspend the collection of the acre levy imposed on agricultural land, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera announced on Tuesday (Dec 12).

According to The Morning, Minister Amaraweera clarified that the acre levy is a tax charged at the rate of Rs. 100 per acre on agricultural land.

He further said that the levy is collected by the Agrarian Development Department through Development Officers.

The minister went on to note that the collected levy is then credited to the government’s revenue.

“President Ranil Wickremesinghe had suggested the suspension of the acre levy at a recent Cabinet meeting.

“The President had pointed out that the government was incurring a higher expenditure in collecting the levy than the income received from it,” he said.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera added that the Ministry intends to completely suspend the acre levy in the future. (NewsWire)

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Proactive measures are being implemented to modernize the agricultural sector, fostering a more appealing environment for the youth, Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mahinda Amaraweera said.

He further highlighted ongoing initiatives aimed at attracting the youth community to agriculture, during a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre on Monday (Dec 11).

Minister Amaraweera expressed appreciation for the swift compensation provided within two months after crop damage, a historic achievement facilitated by the President and the Ministry of Finance.

Expanding on the recent budget debate concerning the allocation of funds to the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantations, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera reflected on the commendable state of affairs within the ministry. 

Addressing concerns about the number of allegations presented compared to other ministries, Minister Amaraweera clarified that the issues raised were primarily historical in nature and that the ministry is making significant strides in various cooperative projects across all sectors.

Assuming duties at the ministry during a challenging period, Minister Amaraweera recounted his proactive approach to instil confidence in farmers. He cited an example where, following his encouragement, farmers cultivated 212,000 hectares of rice, demonstrating a positive response. Subsequently, with continued dedication, the rice cultivation area expanded to an impressive 512,000 hectares, marking a substantial increase and achieving the highest yield in recent times.

Addressing allegations regarding the quality of fertilizers and concerns about their weight, Minister Amaraweera emphasized the unwavering faith that farmers placed in the President and the government. Despite challenges, the farmers actively engaged in cultivation and the ministry took prompt measures to ensure timely provision of various types of fertilizers. Additionally, financial assistance and fuel subsidies were arranged, contributing to the overall success of cultivation efforts and resulting in a high yield.

Minister Amaraweera’s remarks shed light on the ministry’s commitment to overcoming challenges, ensuring the timely support of farmers and achieving notable progress in the agricultural sector. The focus on increasing yields and addressing concerns reflects a proactive and responsive approach to agricultural development under Minister Amaraweera’s leadership.

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera shared crucial insights into Sri Lanka’s rice production and outlined measures to address potential challenges in the agricultural sector. Notably, the annual rice requirement stands at 25,40,000 metric tons and this year’s harvest has exceeded expectations, reaching 27,50,000 metric tons. The Minister attributed this success to strategic measures, resulting in an additional yield of over 200,000 metric tons. However, despite the surplus, the need for rice imports persists due to market dynamics. Minister Amaraweera explained that although the paddy yield is high, mill owners’ reluctance to release the entire stock to the market necessitates imports. Similarly, despite a decrease in the harvest of ‘Keeri Samba’, there has not been a reduction in the variety of rice consumed by the general populace. Therefore, if rice is not imported during this festive season, the price of rice will rise rapidly. Consequently, the importation of rice from abroad becomes a necessity, whether willingly or not.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Minister outlined the government’s agricultural priorities, with a focus on four key crops. While paddy cultivation has achieved success, efforts are underway to encourage the cultivation of maize, chillies, and yams. An ongoing program aims to foster domestic cultivation of these crops, with dedicated areas allocated for each type. The government envisions self-sufficiency in growing these crops, reducing reliance on imports.

Highlighting Sri Lanka’s status as a bird flu-free country, Minister Amaraweera emphasized the opportunity for expanding chicken exports. Current exports to the Maldives are poised for expansion to other countries, capitalizing on Sri Lanka’s bird flu-free status.

Compensation is now provided for crop damage and we are actively working to expedite the program by resolving any arising issues. Remarkably, this marks the first time in history that compensation has been disbursed within a month or two of crop damage. I extend my commendation to the President and the Ministry of Finance for their prompt actions.

The cultivation of rubber in our country has faced challenges and plans are underway to revitalize it. Steps are being taken to enhance the quality and increase the yield of tea. Additionally, a dedicated department has been established for the development of cinnamon cultivation.

Special attention is also being directed towards coffee cultivation, with comprehensive improvement plans in progress. Recognizing the decline in youth participation in agriculture, largely attributed to factors such as insufficient income, we are implementing necessary measures to attract the younger generation to agriculture. In this regard, efforts are being made to further strengthen agricultural modernization activities. (NewsWire)

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The distribution of air rifles to farmers to ward off crop-destroying animals commenced on Sunday (Oct 22).

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera commenced the distribution programme in Angunukolapellessa last morning.

A total of 268 air rifles were distributed to farmers in Angunukolapellessa under the programme. 

Speaking to reporters, Minister Amaraweera said that farmers have made repeated requests for firearms to ward off crop-destroying animals due to the large-scale crop destructions in the recent past.

Stating that monkeys are the key crop destroyers, the minister said measures taken to export Sri Lankan monkeys to China had been suspended due to legal action by environmental organizations. 

“Even though several other countries have also shown interest in receiving Sri Lankan monkeys, the proposal has been suspended in the initial stages due to a court order,” he said. 

Minister Amaraweera pointed out that, however, the destruction of cultivated crops by wild animals has created a serious crisis situation as there is a risk of a future food crisis.

He further said that therefore, it is required to provide not only air rifles but other firearms as well to farmers for this purpose.

“The proposals presented by these environmental organizations to prevent crop damage caused by wild animals including wild animals are not practical at all. the suggestions by these environmental organizations include measures such as saris being hung around the plantations, plates being tied to the coconut trees, and half an acre of cultivated farms being set aside for wild animals,” the minister revealed.

“Therefore, in an effort to prevent crop damage, steps were taken to distribute air rifles subject to 50% contribution as per the request of the farmers and the government had allocated financial allocations for this purpose this year,” he added. (NewsWire)

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There is a great demand from other foreign nations for Sri Lankan toque macaque monkeys, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera informed Parliament today.

Addressing the Parliament, the Minister said as the matter related to a similar request from a Chinese firm had gained great exposure in international media, requests have come from many other countries as well on the possibility of exporting monkeys for their zoos.

“As the request from the Chinese firm ended in turmoil and a court case, the other foreign firms have been requested to make an official request via their respective Embassies in Sri Lanka for this purpose,” Minister Amaraweera said.

Commenting on the issue surrounding the proposal to export Sri Lankan toque macaque monkeys to China, the Minister explained that the request was made by a private Chinese firm that manages nearly 10,000 zoos in China

“They requested 100,000 monkeys, and the request was also for the immediate exportation of 2,000 monkeys within a month. Several discussions were conducted in this regard. The final discussion saw the representation of Wildlife Department officials and the Chinese firm,” he said.

Minister Amaraweera further said that during the meeting, the Chinese firm was instructed to make a request via the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka, to make it an official request, to which the former had agreed. 

“We conducted our private inquiries into the Chinese firm and if they own zoos, and the demand for monkeys, which was confirmed. However, during this process objections were raised by many groups, including environmentalists and politicians, tarnishing the reputation of China,” he said.

The minister pointed out that the Chinese Embassy in Sri Lanka was forced to announce at the time that it had not been informed of any such proposal, as discussions were still ongoing and due to public pressure on the subject.

“I had personally requested the Chinese Embassy to inquire into this Chinese firm and present a report to the Agriculture Ministry. We are yet to receive a response to our written request,” he added.

Minister Amaraweera also revealed that amidst all of this, environmentalists had filed a case in court, due to which all measures pertaining to the export of Sri Lankan toque macaque monkeys to China have been temporarily halted. 

“There is great destruction to crops due to these monkeys, to the extent of 200 million coconut per year, and with several farmers facing difficulties. There is no objection from the public, but only environmental organizations. It is essential to deal with crop-destroying animals,” he emphasized.

The Agriculture Minister further pointed out that his ministry had only attempted to get rid of the monkeys without killing them, but the matter had been blown out of proportion. 

His remarks were made in response to a question raised on the matter by Opposition MP Niroshan Perera in Parliament today (Oct 05). (NewsWire)

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Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has assured that egg and chicken prices will likely decrease next year and remain stable thereafter. 

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera also stated that there will be no need for egg imports from next year.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the minister made the remarks while speaking at a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (Sep 14). 

Minister Amaraweera highlighted that Sri Lanka’s poultry and egg production industry, despite being self-sufficient, experienced a decline due to reduced animal feed production caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. Currently, the entire poultry and egg production for the nation is handled by the private sector, with the total chicken population across all farms exceeding 3,420,000.

“It’s worth noting that most of these chickens are expected to start laying eggs by December and industrialists anticipate a significant increase in egg production in the country after that period. We also gave these industrialists the opportunity to import maize for the production of feed required for the poultry industry. Customers will also benefit from it in the future,” he said.

The minister further stated that the mid-term Livestock Development Program allocated Rs. 37 million to enhance livestock services in the Northern Province.

Furthermore, the Small and Medium Scale Poultry Development Project, which focuses on producing one-day-old country chicken chicks, boosting egg production in rural areas and improving nutrition, received funding of Rs. 48 million.

Prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis, the country’s annual chicken meat production stood at 230,000 metric tons, resulting in a per capita chicken meat consumption of 11 kg per year. However, recent economic challenges and the impact of COVID-19 have caused a 30% reduction in local chicken meat production.

Industrialists are optimistic that the production of chicken meat in the country can rebound to pre-crisis levels by the end of this year, thanks to the significant addition of broiler chickens to farms. Consequently, it is expected that the prices of chicken and eggs will continue to decrease.

The Ministry of Agriculture has prioritised livestock development in the country and has initiated various programs to support this effort. These measures include promoting small and medium-scale farms, stimulating production, encouraging meat and egg exports, importing high-quality calves, developing and preserving grasslands and boosting animal feed production.

Currently, the daily egg requirement in our country stands at 7 million eggs. However, egg production has decreased by 50% following the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis.

The main factors contributing to the decline in egg and chicken meat production include a decrease in animal feed production, a shortage of foreign exchange for importing animal feed and reduced local maize production. Nevertheless, there is currently an upward trend in chicken meat and egg production in the poultry industry. Recent data shows that approximately 6 million eggs are being supplied daily, leaving a current shortage of around 1 million eggs per day. However, it is anticipated that this deficit can be addressed over the next three months.

To achieve self-sufficiency in milk production, both short and long-term plans have been devised. A five-year plan known as the National Dairy Policy, spanning from 2023 to 2028 has been formulated to work towards this goal. It’s worth noting that in 2021, Sri Lanka imported a total of 82,087 metric tons of milk and milk-related products, indicating a reliance on imports to meet domestic demand.

Also, 1670 beneficiaries will be provided facilities for the cultivation and conservation of grass and fodder as activities to increase productivity through the management of small and medium scale dairy farms and 6 fodder and fodder processing centres will be set up.

“We also hope to improve 09 breeding farms belonging to the Provincial Animal Production and Health Department as well as to improve private breeding farm centres,” the Agriculture Minister said.

The National Artificial Insemination Service has produced and distributed 40,000 heifers to the cattle population and 164,836 cow sperms per year. Under this project implemented with the Board of Investment, 12,000 high-quality milk cows will be deployed in the field and the annual production will be 75 million litres of milk.

A large-scale animal production farm was started at the Polonnaruwa Farm belonging to the National Livestock Development Board. The amount spent for it is around Rs. 250 million. (NewsWire)

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Local poultry producers have agreed to reduce the price of chicken, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera stated.

Minister Amaraweera stated that local poultry producers are willing to reduce the price of chicken by Rs. 100 per kilogram. (NewsWire)

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A total of 512,000 hectares of paddy fields were cultivated in the Yala season after a period of 10 years, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera said.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the minister said this was possible as a result of the new fertilizer policy of President Ranil Wickremesinghe.

“80% of the nation’s agricultural production is expected to be produced by 2025 as part of President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s strategy to modernize the agricultural industry.

The use of contemporary technologies in agriculture can improve the production of fruits and vegetables intended for export and reduce the number of agricultural crops that are imported”, Minister Amaraweera added.

The minister expressed these views during a press conference themed ‘One Year of Progress’ held at the Presidential Media Centre yesterday (July 17).

The full statement of Minister Mahinda Amaraweera;

Within a year of taking office, President Ranil Wickremesinghe promptly fixed the farmers’ issues and tried to get them back to farming. Without a doubt, the country’s circumstances were dire when President Ranil Wickremesinghe assumed office and I took over the Ministry of Agriculture. 

Farmers protested on the roads demanding fertilizer. The youths of the farming families left the farms and moved to other areas. Some young people even left the country. The biggest issue, in this case, was guiding them back to the farmland. The public had no confidence in the Ministers. Even at the meetings on this problem, the farmers stayed away.

If they wish to return to the fields, they demand to be provided fertilizer. Although 275 000 hectares were supposed to be cultivated in that Yala season only 212, 000 hectares were cultivated. At that time, President Ranil Wickremesinghe negotiated with the Indian Government and arranged to provide 6,500 metric tons of fertilizer under the Indian loan scheme. However, the Indian loan arrangement does not allow for the provision of fertilizers. The fertilizer was imported from Oman. Only after learning that a ship carrying fertilizer was approaching the Port did the farmers venture back to their fields. This allowed for the cultivation of 512 000 hectares. It is now the most cultivated hectares in the Yala season after ten years.

The farmers arrived back at the farmland in this manner. A global food crisis was anticipated at the time, according to the warnings. Despite considerable success during the Yala season, 800,000 metric tons of rice had to be imported due to the fertilizer issue. The amount of rice that the government had to import was 300 million USD. For animal feed, another 100 million USD was invested. The farmers received fuel and financial aid to carry out the required farming tasks. Additionally, steps were taken to give small-scale farmers a supplementary urea fertilizer subsidy. Money was deposited to farmers’ accounts so they could also purchase organic fertilizers.

The Yala season has now begun. After three seasons, measures were taken to make mud fertilizer available without charge. The newly imported urea fertilizer is offered for Rs. 9000. A voucher of Rs.2000 is issued per one hectare to purchase Bundi fertilizer. The farmers have now received an unexpected subsidy. They did not request for free fertilizer. However, President Ranil Wickremesinghe is of the opinion that more help should be given to improve the status quo.

There is a chance to advance the level of our nation’s agriculture on a global scale. Modern technology is being introduced to agriculture through many means. There may be several difficulties here. However, every effort is made to develop agriculture using contemporary technologies. Numerous individuals, both inside and outside of the political sphere, have criticized these actions. They have alleged that imported fertilizers are substandard and the harvest is poor.

There are still plenty of initiatives to dissuade farmers. Despite what they claim, the farmers have returned to their farms. The Agricultural Services Act is currently being amended. In addition to the current subsidies, steps are being taken to provide subsidies for the cultivation of other crops. There are several areas where paddy agriculture is not profitable. The government is ready to help them grow other crops. They have the potential to earn more income by switching to other crops.

The farmers in this country would not only have abandoned their fields if the President had not come into power, but many of them might have also taken their own lives. And we could have become a weak nation due to scarcity of food. When the President assumed office a year ago, food inflation was nearly 90%. 

So far, food inflation has decreased to 4.1%. All the farmers of this country deserve the respect and praise of the citizens for being committed to creating a renaissance in the country’s agriculture and creating food security in the country. 

Also, the country has saved 400 USD as the farmers have resumed cultivation. President Ranil Wickremesinghe gave instructions to establish an Agricultural Modernization Secretariat for the modernization of the agricultural sector in the Presidential Secretariat in parallel to accelerate the country’s sustainable economic growth. The main responsibility of the Agricultural Modernization Secretariat is to solve problems related to various dimensions of modernization, including specific problems affecting various sub-sectors. It envisages the preparation of roadmaps for each sub-sector to modernize agriculture with time-bound measures and performance benchmarks.

In order to formally implement this responsibility, the Agricultural Modernization Secretariat has been established by involving all ministries, the private sector and universities related to the subject of agriculture. This Agricultural Modernization Secretariat has been operating since May 31 this year based on improving the production and productivity of the agricultural, livestock and animal products sectors using modern technology, increasing the farmer’s income, and increasing the export income.

A national policy framework is currently being prepared under the leadership of Professor Gamini Senanayake of the University of Ruhuna as per the instructions of the President in order to get the agricultural sector’s assistance in creating a ‘Developed Sri Lanka’ by the year 2048 through sustainable agricultural development, production of export-oriented agricultural products, assurance of local food security and the transformation of the youth group into ‘Agribusiness Entrepreneurs associated with new technology’. The goal is to have this policy framework completed by the end of August 2023.

The average yield of paddy in this country is about 3.7 metric tons per hectare. A set of farmers from Hambantota have been able to obtain 10.25 metric tons of paddy per hectare by following good agricultural practices and using quality seed materials. Therefore, the primary goal is to double the current average annual yield for paddy by six seasons from 3.7 metric tons to 7.4. metric tons.

The average maize yield in Sri Lanka is about 3.7 metric tons per hectare. By the end of 2026, it is expected to increase up to 60 metric tons. Steps will be taken to construct high-tech model cultivation plots as pilot projects for both crops and livestock in each province, with the help of the Provincial Council, the line Ministry, the Central Government, the private sector and universities.

Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Director General of Agriculture P. Malathi, Agricultural Services Commissioner General A. H. M. L. Abeyratne, Chairman of Fertilizer Corporation Dr. Jagath Perera, Director of National Fertilizer Secretariat Chandana Lokuhewage were also present. (NewsWire)

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