Cultivate every inch of land with economically viable crops to overcome future food crisis: Amaraweera

There is a possibility of a food crisis in our country in the future, and the only answer for the impending food crisis is to cultivate every inch of land with economically viable crops, Environment Minister Mahinda  Amaraweera said.

The Minister expressed these views while participating in a public awareness programme on National Tree Planting under the theme ‘Nekathata Pelayak’. 

The food crisis in our country could be inevitable due to the declining yields on cultivated lands, the lack of confidence among farmers about organic fertilizer cultivation, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, absence of foreign exchange for food imports, and the fact that many food producing countries have restricted exports as the war spreads fear across the world. 

Instead of blaming each other for this short coming, everyone countryman should swing into action to bring prosperity to the country by engaging in cultivation together, Minister Amaraweera said.

"In the year 2021, we have included the planting of a sapling for the Sinhala and Tamil New Year auspicious time. We were able to plant over one million seedlings islandwide last year. Also, this time we are planting saplings on April 18 at 11.16 am. Our goal is to plant at least 1.5 million seedlings, "the minister said.

Therefore, we urge everyone in our country to plant any economically viable crop in their backyard  to coincide with the auspicious time on April 16. 

The Minister also said that plant stalls will be set up at various places to make it easier for the public to buy them, the Minister added. (Chaturanga Samarawickrama)