INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has instructed the relevant officials to immediately launch a comprehensive public-private partnership
programme on food security.Negotiations with several countries to meet the fertilizer requirement have been successful, he said
Therefore, the President requested all farmers not to give up cultivation during the Yala Season due to a shortage of fertilizer or any
activities of the Yala Season and the lessening of possible food shortages in the future.The President pointed out that a National
Fertilizer Policy should be formulated expeditiously for the importation, distribution, proper management, awareness, and coordination among
cultivation activities using chemical or organic fertilizers as per the wishes of the farmers.By identifying paddy fields that are not used
for cultivation during the Yala Season and encouraging the cultivation of essential crops including green gram, cowpea and soybean, farmers
home gardens and lands where government offices are located should be encouraged
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that all public servants from Ministers, Members of Parliament and other political leaders should
contribute to this and set a precedent.It was also decided to commence a Cultivation Promotion Week integration all provinces by identifying
the crops to be cultivated and to provide funds allocated to the Provincial Councils for agriculture, livestock and fresh-water fishing
industries without any limit.The President instructed the government to make optimal use of the Eppawala phosphate deposit to produce
fertilizer containing phosphorus needed for the upcoming Maha Season.Measures to provide animal feed in order to control the prices of milk,
eggs and chicken were also discussed at length.Plans have been made to reduce post-harvest wastage, save food, store food, preserve and
Pushpakumara said steps have been taken to implement a number of programmes including promoting agricultural products related
self-employment and to introduce methods to prevent diseases and damages caused by pesticides in crops.Chief of Staff to the President Anura
This article first appeared/also appeared in https://adaderana.lk
