Value addition for agriculture missing from Budget: SLFP

By Nuwan Senarathna

The Budget presented by the United National Party (UNP) has failed to address broader issues of the agriculture sector and only focused on mechanisation, the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) breakaway fraction said yesterday.

“Even though the contribution of agriculture to the economy has been diminishing, a considerable fraction of the population is still engaged in the agriculture sector. Therefore the Government has to take measures to promote the sector despite its lower contribution to GDP,” MP S.B. Dissanayake told reporters at the weekly media briefing of SLFP breakaway fraction held in MP Thilanga Sumathipala’s residence.

Dissanayake argued Finance Minister Mangala Samaraweera has failed read the agriculture sector with an analytical point of view while claiming the Government has aimed policies to win elections.

He said the Budget has not presented any proposal to assure a fair price for paddy farmers.

“The Government does not have to buy the entire paddy production, but that helps stabilize the price, because when the Government is buying paddy at a higher price, private mill owners have to buy at competitive prices.”

He noted Government has failed to provide policies for crops such as rubbers and coconut that could still be used to generate export earnings. Dissanayake pointed out if measures were taken by the Government to play an intermediate role, bridging the gap to find better markets, rubber production could be transformed into an export earning crop. 

He argued the Government could have imposed duties for importing rubber as raw materials, to promote locally produced rubber as raw material for local rubber-based products. According to Dissanayake, such a move would benefit local rubber producers as well as the trade deficit by reducing imports.

Dissanayake charged that the Budget had not focused on coconut cultivation. He claimed selling coconut lands for other purposes such as housing projects had led to reduced production. 

He pointed out coconut-based productions such as canned coconut water could be used push export earnings in organic products. “There are numerous opportunities for coconut-based industries but the Government has failed to capitalise on them,” he added.

Focusing on livestock, Dissanayake noted more emphasis should have given to promote local dairy production to protect local dairy farmers. He argued the Government should focus on to cross-breed cattle that are suitable for local conditions. 

UPFA wants more focus on agri