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Monday, 7 March 2011 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
The Government serves the farming community of this country with a future vision. You may recall that during the humanitarian operation, the world faced a food crisis.
We did not prepare for this although our ‘Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu’ programme was already in place. Thus, we were able to overcome this food crisis easily, stated President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
He said so addressing the farmers’ conference, Maha Govi Samuluwa on Thursday at Temple Trees. The conference was held in line with the setting up of one million domestic economic units island wide. More than 7,000 representatives from the farming community attended this conference aimed at boosting agriculture and development in the country. Farmers representing all 25 districts participated at the event.
Now there is talk of another food crisis in 2012. But we have already made our country self-sufficient. We are prepared to further strengthen our farmers to meet all future challenges, President Rajapaksa said.
In addition to the food crisis, the world faced an oil crisis as well as an economic crisis. We protected our people and fought against terrorists alongside such challenges while carrying out the development process, he stressed.
In a very short period, we have been able to rebuild areas in the East destroyed by terrorists. Now we are speedily restoring the North, the President added.
‘In the speedy manner in which we rebuilt after the tsunami, the government will take action to alleviate hardships of the people who suffer from floods.’
When the LTTE harassed farmers by closing the Mavil Aru anicut, the Government never hesitated to take steps to safeguard the farmers. In the same way farmers set in motion the operation that finally liberated the country. Now they have a great responsibility in taking the country towards self-sufficiency, he said.
In accordance with the Mahinda Chintana: Vision Ahead, the Government has been offering the fertiliser subsidy for paddy cultivators since 2005, he said.
As stated in the Mahinda Chintana, a 50 kg fertiliser bag was given to farmers at Rs. 350.
“At the time when I mentioned that a 50kg fertiliser bag would be given to farmers at Rs. 350 in 2005, the opposition asked whether we have found an Aladin’s Lamp. Even without having the Aladin’s Lamp the fertiliser subsidy is being given continuously allocating millions. The Government has clearly understood that the allocation for the subsidy is an investment,” the President noted.
In the near future, the fertiliser subsidy will also be given to coconut, rubber, vegetable and other crops. “In addition, we will also do away with the current practice of filling forms for obtaining the fertiliser subsidy and an easy mechanism will be implemented to facilitate this.”
Speaking about the National Programme of setting up one million domestic economic units, the President noted that the cultivation habit has to be enhanced among citizens of the country. The domestic economic units will not only fulfill the vegetable requirement of the family, it will also help obtain a better economic standard for the family.
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Agrarian Services and Wildlife Minister S.M. Chandrasena and several other Government Ministers were also present on the occasion.
