Spotlight on key issues faced by farmers and agri-based entrepreneurs in Uva

Many farmer organisations (Govi Sanwidanaya) participated at the Key Persons Forum held in Bandarawela recently.

Among the organisations that took part were Ambeygoda, Hathapeella, Gemunu, Dehiwela, Samagi, Wewadigadowa, Palawatte, Nugathalawa, Pattiyagedara, Badulla District Green House Farmers Association, Eco Organic Farm Matale, and Bandarawella Golden Flower farmers associations.

Ten main issues were identified at the forum and observed issues and concerns were forwarded for the attention of the Minister.

In his opening remarks at the launch of the forum, FCCISL President Kumar Mallimaratchi said KPF was a part of the business and public awareness effort on issues pertaining to the business, economy, and society.

He also stated that bringing this forum to the region was a fulfilment of the communication gap between the stakeholders of the regional level trade and industry and policy level decision makers.

FCCISL CEO Nalin Attygalle explaining the objectives of the KPF stated that it was for the first time that such forum was organised on regional level.

“The forum is a platform for you to interact and engage in dialogue with an eminent person in a responsible position. You also get the chance to forward your issues and exchange your views and ides with the policy level decision makers. It is the best time to rethink how farmers can take an entrepreneurial approach and expand their farming plus marketing their agri products,” Attygalle said.

The forum was addressed by Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena on ‘Agro Ways of Industrial Development through Agriculture’. Delivering the keynote address, the Minister stated that farmers needed to cultivate varieties that had sufficient demand to strive on agri-based marketing. He also said there were hidden opportunities in niche markets that farmers needed to discover.

Emphasising on the importance of managing demand and supply, the Minister said: “Farmers need to use higher yielding seeds, cultivate varieties that are in high demand in the market, pay attention for quality in post harvesting, and regularly communicate with the traders and get updated about the industry in order to pursue a pricing strategy.”

At the discussion farmers highlighted that the Government needs to provide facilities to produce high quality seeds to save money spent on importing seeds. They also proposed to distribute seed potatoes through the Divi Neguma program and introduce a new rice seed suited to the Uva.

It was proposed to promote use of organic fertiliser by way of subsidising relevant machineries and tools used for producing organic fertiliser. The farmers called for Government intervention in distributing chemical fertiliser and requested subsidised agriculture machinery.

With large-scale devastation of agriculture land and destruction of food crops caused by natural disasters, they urged for compensation to the affected farmers to mitigate the damage and salvage.

A mechanism to protect natural streams, priorities natural forests instead of managed forests, and rehabilitation of irrigation cannels, small tanks and anicuts, were on the list of priorities in protecting soil and water.

Participants requested Government intervention in agriculture marketing and emphasised on the value of crop diversification. Farmers complained about the destruction caused by wild animals such as monkeys, wild boar, and crocodiles, and the resultant loss of crops. Two farmer organisations in Matale and Bandarawella appealed for agricultural loans to develop liquid fertiliser and green house projects.

Over 120 farmers, entrepreneurs, traders, and public and private sector officials participated in the Key Persons Forum. The forum was organised by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) in collaboration with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Uva Province and supported by the Asia Foundation under its Local Economic Governance Program, which is funded by the Australian International Agency for Development (AusAID).

Uva Chamber President M.I.M. Pathahulla said it was a huge accomplishment for the local chamber to engage in organising this forum in Bandarawela.

“Our members, farmers, and the public were able to interact with the Minister and forward their issues and grievances to the Minster. This might be the first time they got a chance to approach a high level Minister,” Pathahulla continued.

A chamber-farmer-business mechanism is to be introduced to interact with the Government in order to continue the communication and find solutions for the issues faced by the different stakeholders of the agriculture trade in Uva.