The Hon. Susil Ranasinghe - Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation

¶ 01 Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Speaker. This debate concerns the policy statement presented by the President at the commencement of the First Session of the Tenth Parliament. I represent the Anuradhapura District and, as Deputy Minister of Land and Irrigation under the Ministry of Agriculture, I intend to speak on the policies for the agricultural sector.

¶ 02 A very small proportion of our people live in urban and suburban areas; the vast majority live in rural areas across the North, East, West, and South. Some are in fisheries, many in agriculture. Sadly, over 76 years of politics have left rural lives in a very unfortunate state — burdened by debt. Almost every household is indebted — to banks, cooperatives, groups, monthly or daily loans, or moneylenders; many have pawned belongings. Families are crushed by debt, unable to educate children, repair homes, eat properly, or obtain medicine.

¶ 03 Rural infrastructure, including main roads, is underdeveloped. To uplift rural life, we aim for an agriculture-centered policy. Sri Lanka has favorable conditions — climate, irrigation traditions, and soils — and a capable farming community steeped in tradition. We believe the environment is ideal to develop agriculture.

¶ 04 For paddy, both Yala and Maha seasons yield substantial harvests, but we must increase yields per acre/hectare through technology. Other crops — chilli, onions, black gram, green gram, millet, etc. — are not cultivated adequately to meet national needs; we still import many of these, spending dollars, while farmers do not get sufficient incomes. We will plan nationally to allocate and expand land for such crops and promote cultivation to meet domestic demand.

¶ 05 Key farmer concerns go beyond subsidies. Provide subsidies, yes, but to the right recipients, while creating the broader enabling environment. Seeds are expensive and of poor quality. Farmers demand good seeds at affordable prices, quality fertilizer at low cost and easy access, and affordable quality agrochemicals and inputs. We expect the Ministry to ensure affordable, quality seeds, fertilizer, and inputs and to improve mechanization. Around the world, mechanized, technology-driven agriculture has advanced, but that technology hasn’t adequately arrived here. We must introduce it, reduce high machinery costs, and lower overall production costs so that farm incomes improve.

¶ 06 We must also develop the livestock sector to meet national needs — including establishing and supporting pasture lands — and prepare a national land-use plan, allocating lands for agriculture, industry, and settlements. Our irrigation systems and technology must be modernized. We should develop agro-based industries from small to large scale, with both public and private sectors, empowering farmers and communities. Promote export crops to earn dollars and channel that income to rural areas to uplift lives. This Government’s policy is to improve agriculture, bring in technology, plan cropping, develop irrigation, and thereby improve rural living standards. We have a strong mandate and the support of farmers, their leaders, and experts to implement this policy. Thank you.