Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
Tuesday Oct 08, 2024
Wednesday, 12 November 2014 00:13 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Addressing a gathering of officials and representatives of agrarian organisations at Temple Trees on 10 November, the President recalled the era in which previous governments geared to import all goods, without placing trust in the country’s agricultural industry.
He stated that the present Government was the only administration that had displayed a keen enthusiasm on the agricultural industry, giving priority to farming, and assured provision of the maximum strength required by the farmers in the future.
Questioning what past governments did when farmers were not in a position to purchase their fertiliser or even sell their harvest, the President added: “When the Government started giving the fertiliser subsidy in 2005, queries were made as to how the Government could provide it at Rs. 350.”
The President said the Government was spending at least Rs. 4 billion annually on the fertiliser subsidy and asked the gathering not to permit an alteration of this policy.
The President claimed that it was the alliance Governments headed by the Sri Lanka Freedom Party that had shown such interest in farmers and the agricultural industry. “No one is prepared to reverse a country that is moving forward,” he added.
The President also recalled bitter memories of the dark era during which the farmers were treated badly.
Farmers representing all provinces including the north and east joined in this gathering, organised under the theme ‘Ten Years in Agrarian Service’.
