The Hon. Kins Nelson

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member.

¶ 02 First, I express regret and condolences to those displaced by floods and to bereaved families. I propose the Government swiftly provides solutions. Before my views on the Committee Stage of Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation, let me recall this: because of wrong decisions concerning farmers and unkept promises, a President was thrown out—let us not forget.

¶ 03 Looking at this Budget, I see nice numbers rather than solutions. Hon. Minister of Agriculture, as a Minister with feet on the ground, you must be feeling the difficulty. For 2025 you have allocated Rs. 500 million to provide credit facilities over five years to 50,000 young agri and agri-industrial entrepreneurs. But only 28 people have received loans. To meet the target, at least 10,000 per year should be supported—but only 28 have been. So, these are attractive numbers. In the second Budget, you have increased to Rs. 750 million for this sector. Even if you cannot reach 10,000 in 2026, at least support 5,000 with this Rs. 750 million.

¶ 04 For paddy fertilizer subsidy, Rs. 36,000 million is allocated. But 27 days have passed since water issues began and field prep started. Has the subsidy been received for mud fertilizer? Subsidy should be given when field prep starts. You say Rs. 25,000 per hectare, given twice. Did farmers get it, and on time? Recently, farmers came out themselves saying fertilizer was not received on time. In Polonnaruwa, some have received, some have not.

¶ 05 Is the subsidy adequate? The Department prescribes per hectare: 225 kg urea, 55 kg TSP, 60 kg MOP—with a stated price of Rs. 66,700. If that is the requirement and cost per hectare, but you give Rs. 25,000 per season, and not on time, can we get a good yield? To get yield, we need timely water, fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. Without these, the farmer suffers. Farmers are those who struggle with the soil and even with wild animals.

¶ 06 A previous Member said most here are farmers. If so, we must know where the farmer stands today—how vulnerable he is. The farmer never comes to ask for jobs—he asks for timely water and fertilizer; and at harvest, a fair price. If we can provide these three, justice is done to the one who supplies our rice. I too am from a farming community. Minister, you know the fate of Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura. Even if you couldn’t meet targets in the first Budget, I believe you will ensure justice in the Maha season.

¶ 07 In the last Yala, the Government set paddy prices—Rs. 102 per kilo for wet paddy and Rs. 120 per kilo for dried. The mistake: Did state institutions buy wet paddy? Nowhere was wet paddy purchased. Millers told farmers, “If the Government won’t buy wet paddy at Rs. 102, why should we?” They bought at Rs. 80 per kilo. How many farmers can dry to 14 percent moisture? Most have no capacity; police file cases if they dry on the roads. For this Maha, funds are allocated for drying facilities—please implement and instruct officers. Tell them funds are allocated for fertilizer subsidy and they must be spent this year. Do not leave money idle at the Central Bank. Implement. Therefore, I propose abolishing the Rs. 102 per kilo price for wet paddy this Maha. Farmers did not ask for it. Remove it. Also, is Rs. 120 per 5 kg fair when there is 18 percent VAT on agri equipment? Remove it. Provide high-quality fertilizer. Reduce VAT on herbicides, pesticides, and fertilizers, and then Rs. 120 per 5 kg may be adequate. Otherwise, give farmers a fair price of Rs. 140 per 5 kg. We speak here with the farmers’ vote and voice.

¶ 08 On big onions: Sri Lanka’s annual demand is 300,000 MT and 82 percent is imported. In Polonnaruwa’s Elahera DS area, over 700 acres of big onions were cultivated; many households have 10,000-15,000 kg in stock. Farmers say it costs Rs. 130 to produce 1 kg; but they are forced to sell at Rs. 110-120. We need a mechanism—if we had proper storage, big onions can be stored for about a year. Experts say with proper warehouses we can keep them that long. Allocate funds to build such storage and strengthen the big onion farmer.

¶ 09 A Member from Anuradhapura spoke of field crops on paddy lands getting Rs. 15,000 per hectare. Does that apply to manioc and banana farmers? How many do geda bhoga on paddy lands? In the Kaju Watta village in Polonnaruwa, over 700 acres of manioc are grown. None of those farmers receive the fertilizer subsidy. Do not do that. Those innocent farmers survive through these field crops; they are also farmers. Provide them the subsidy too.

¶ 10 On dairy: Last Budget allocated Rs. 2,500 million for dairy farmers. What was done with it? Milk does not fall from the sky to MILCO. MILCO’s milk comes from humble dairy farmers in our villages…