Agriculture

Our farmers undergo great sufferings due to the scarcity of water, non availability of land, crop losses, poor market for their produce and lack of access to technology. To address these problems, a new approach has been implemented through the “Mahinda Chinthanaya”.

In order to boost domestic food production, the government declared a comprehensive policy framework for national agriculture in 2007 and invested Rs. 141,322 million over the period of 2005-2009 on the development of the Agriculture sector.

The extent of paddy cultivation increased to 1,053,000 ha in 2008 from 937,000 in 2005. This has been attributed mainly to the increase in the sale price of paddy from 13.50 per kilogram to Rs. 31.50 per kilogram, supply of seed paddy, loan facilities and fertilizer at a concessionary rate. In addition, the government has given priority for the cultivation of Other Field Crops and invested Rs. 2805 mn on these crops while maintaining import tariff at a high level. This resulted in an increase in the production of Maize, Chillie, Big Onion and Red Onion to a great extent. The production of Chillie increased from 13,200 mt in 2005 to 51,100 mt in 2008 and Maize from 41,800 mt to 112,500 mt.

Earnings from export agricultural crops such as Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, and Cardomon have increased from Rs. 9,575 million in 2005 to Rs. 16,664 in 2008 as a result of the higher price maintained by the government and the development activities undertaken through the investment of Rs. 460 million in 13 districts in these programmes. The The value of exports of Pepper, Cinnamon, Cloves, Mace and Cardomon have increased from Rs. 9,575 million in 2005 to Rs. 16,664 in 2008.

The Volume of fruit exports increased from 6,566 mt in 2005 to 14,415 mt in 2008. The volume of vegetables exported increased from 14,071 mt in 2005 to 19,398 mt in 2008. The value of exports of fruits and vegetables increased from Rs.1, 762 million in 2005 to Rs. 4, 225 million in 2008. This created new expectations among the farmers.