Govt. to boost 16 agriculture products output to curb imports

• Move aimed at transforming from import orientation to self-sufficient, export-oriented economy
• Agri Minister says green gram, sesame, cowpea and peanut cultivations now at self-sufficient levels
• Ministry allocates Rs. 279.5 b for cultivation of potato, big onions, chili, red onion and corn this year
• Plans to improve livestock and dairy production with private sector investors by 2024

 The Government is stepping up food import substitution with a new program to boost local production of 16 agriculture products within the next four years.

These agri products include paddy, chili, potato, big onion, red onion, corn, black gram, green gram, cowpea, soya, sesame, finger millet and peanut.

The move is aimed at transforming from an import oriented to a self-sufficient, export-oriented economy.

“President Gotabaya Rajapaksa intends to strengthen agriculture production in the country, where all of these products could have been cultivated in the country according to his policy statement ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’. The Government will extend support to provide good seed and planting materials as well as to promote and popularise organic agriculture during the next 10 years,” Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage told journalists yesterday.

With the programs initiated by the Government already green gram, sesame, cowpea and peanut cultivations are now at self-sufficient levels.

Citing 2019 import data, the Minister said the Government has spent Rs. 210 billion to import potato, dried chili, big onion, red onion, corn, milk powder and seeds. He believes the new program will help to boost agriculture production, whilst significantly contributing to the national economy.

The Ministry has allocated Rs. 279.5 billion for cultivation of potato, big onions, chili, red onion and corn this year. In addition, lands have been identified on a District basis to cultivate; 7,000 acres for potato, 8,000 acres for big onion, 6,000 acres for red onion and 148,000 for corn.

The Minister also said they hope to establish a land bank by collecting all Government lands belonging to various institutions to be able to make use of them. “There are so many lands that are underutilised by many institutions even under my Ministry. We hope to provide these lands to private sector investors for cultivation purposes,” he said.

Highlighting there is great potential and demand for fruit exports, Aluthgamage said the Ministry is keen to collaborate with Fruit Research and Development Centre, Horana to improve exports.

“There is greater demand for fruits like pineapple, banana, mango and cinnamon. However, as there is insufficient supply, our exporters are struggling to meet the demand. Hence, this is an area we are going to focus on developing with the experts,” he added.

Furthermore, the Minister said that they have taken steps to improve the livestock and dairy production in the country with the support of private sector investors by 2024.

“We expect to discuss with leading plantation companies to set up large-scale farms to increase our dairy production in the country. Already three companies have submitted proposals in this regard, where they have agreed to bring down 4,500 cattle each to produce 100,000 litres of milk per day within a three-year period,” he said.

Government spends Rs. 55 billion annually to import milk powder, where only 40% is locally produced.

“At present, the average milk production of the existing cows are around 2.5 litres per day and with this new program we hope to increase it to five litres per day. We hope to grant Cabinet approval for the three companies that have submitted proposals in the near future,” he added.

The country currently has 1.2 million cows, but of that only 250,000 are producing milk. The Government intends to increase this to 500,000 cows within the next two years.