Farmers, consumers hit by inaccurate crop data from Agriculture Dept.

• Reports published on the Department’s official website are “extremely false and baseless,” leading to misguided policies that contributed to a rice shortage earlier this year

By Mangala Pavithrani   

Sri Lanka’s farmers and consumers are facing serious difficulties due to inaccurate data and forecasts issued by the Department of Agriculture, Chairman of the National Farmers’ Union Anuradha Tennakoon told the Daily Mirror.   
He explained that the Department’s ‘Socio-Economic and Planning Center’ issues crop forecasts estimating shortages or surpluses of food crops in upcoming months. However, Tennakoon alleged that the reports published on the Department’s official website are “extremely false and baseless,” leading to misguided policies that contributed to a rice shortage earlier this year. Tennakoon also criticised the latest production cost report on the Department’s website as being incorrect, claiming it uses false data. He added that foreign aid projects, such as ‘CROPIX,’ intended to provide advance notices for vegetable cultivation, have failed to benefit farmers.   
“Due to high market prices, unsold vegetables are piling up with local farmers, which is a waste of national wealth,” Tennakoon said. He further noted that inaccurate data on crops like onions and potatoes has forced unnecessary imports, causing substantial losses to local farmers.   
Tennakoon urged the government to use reliable data from the Department of Census and Statistics and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agricultural Research Institute for agricultural reporting.