By Pabodha Hettige
President Mahinda Rajapaksa had set a target for the Ministry of Agriculture to increase rice exports to 25,000 tonnes by 2015, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abaywardena said. Currently, Sri Lanka supplies nearly 6,000 tonnes of rice to the global market.
"In this regard, the ministry had identified the Mannar, Hambantota, Ampara and Polonnaruwa districts as suitable to set up rice export zones," he said.
Rs. 700 million had been allocated from the 2012 budget to develop agriculture in the country.
There would be a greater collaboration with the private sector to carry out the rice export project. The private sector would have to play a key role in identifying global market trends, the minister said.
In the proposed export zones, improved varieties of paddy seeds would also be used and Rs. 200 million had been allocated for that.
Abaywardena said that in 2012, after the next season of cultivation, Sri Lanka would be self-sufficient in rice production. "The current production is only sufficient to fulfill 90 per cent of the total domestic need," he said.
The ministry had also allocated Rs. 10 million to promote climate change adoptive measures. Popularization of short term seed varieties and establishment of 100 rain shelters would be carried out in this regards. Steps had also been taken to increase the seed production of chilies, large onions, corn and a variety of grains.
"Agricultural officials would also educate the farmers on improving the use of organic fertilizer instead of the much practiced agro chemical usage," Abaywardena said.
The ministry had also taken steps to introduce new varieties of paddy seeds to suit the climatic conditions of the wet zone, he said.
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