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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The government has announced plans to provide Mada Pohora (TSP) to farmers at a lower price than the current market rate for the upcoming Yala season, through a gazette notification.

According to the President’s Media Division (PMD), the plans were announced by Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera who attended a discussion on agriculture issues held at the Presidential Secretariat.

The discussion addressed various agriculture-related topics, including fertilization strategies, paddy marketing issues, and the prevention of yellowing in paddy cultivation. 

The Department of Agriculture revealed that the reduction in the use of Mada Pohora (TSP) is the main cause of yellowing in paddy cultivation. To prevent this disease in the upcoming Yala season, measures will be taken to increase the use of Mada Pohora (TSP). 

The discussion also highlighted the different viewpoints promoted by organic and chemical fertilizer companies, and the importance of reaching a common viewpoint was emphasized by various scholars and institutions. Special attention was given to the use of fertilizer in the upcoming Yala season, and Chief of Presidential Staff Sagala Ratnayake stressed the importance of providing farmers with the opportunity to purchase fertilizer at a lower rate than the previous season. Representatives from fertilizer companies suggested that the Agriculture Department should recommend suitable crops and agricultural inputs to farmers to increase their production at a lower cost. 

During the discussion, the Minister of Agriculture noted that despite the challenges faced by farmers, they were able to produce a better paddy harvest in the last Yala and Maha seasons in line with market requirements. The possibility of selling old rice in warehouses as animal feed was also discussed, with the potential to increase the price of rice and decrease the prices of eggs and chicken in the market. 

The discussion was attended by various officials, including the President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and Chief of Presidential Staff, Sagala Ratnayake, and the President’s Adviser on Food Security, Suren Batagoda. Other participants included Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Trade, Commerce and Food Security A.M.P.M.B. Athapattu, Director General of the Department of Agriculture P. Malathi, Director General of the Consumer Affairs Authority, and representatives of organic and chemical fertilizer companies. (NewsWire)

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