We should strive to be self-sufficient thus ensuring food security: Mahinda Amaraweera

The World Food Programme estimates that 6.3 million people in Sri Lanka, which is more than 30 per cent of the country’s total population, are “food insecure” and in need of humanitarian aid. Of these individuals, around 5.3 million are either cutting down on the number of meals they eat or missing meals entirely, and at least 65,600 are in a state of acute food insecurity. Since its independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has never before faced a more severe economic crisis than it is now enduring. 

It is no longer possible for the nation to pay the import bills for food, gasoline, gas, and other critical products required for the day-to-day lives of its population, and the repayment of the country’s vast foreign debts is a distant dream.

In addition, according to a study released on September 12 by the Food and Agriculture Organisation and the World Food Programme, Sri Lankan children are very susceptible to escalating socio-economic crises. The report warns that the situation will become much direr from October 2022 through February 2023 owing to low harvests of staple foods such as paddy rice and the continuing instability in the economy.
The decision of former President Rajapaksa to ban chemical fertilisers in May 2021 also played a role in Sri Lanka’s economic downturn. Consequently, rice production dropped by more than 30% in the last season. With a reduction in their yield, many farmers struggled to cover their costs. A shortage of fuel also complicated the harvesting and transportation of crops.

In that background, Daily Mirror sat down with Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera to explore to what extent the Agriculture Ministry is ready to face the upcoming predicted calamities and his views on the current political climate. 

Q Have you sorted out the fertiliser issue for the next cultivation season? Will farmers have access to enough fertiliser and agrochemicals?
The Ministry has planned to provide a free fertiliser bag (50kg) to the farmers who farm in an area which is less than one hectare. Currently, tenders have been called, showcasing progress in the supply of providing free fertiliser, and now we are at the end of the tender process. In addition, the price of a urea bag will be Rs. 10,000. Accordingly, this will be provided under a relief programme. Furthermore, Muriate of Potash (Potassium Chloride) fertiliser will also be provided at a concessionary price for Maha season paddy cultivation. Muriate of Potash is a commonly used fertiliser used by farmers as a ‘bandi Pohora’ in paddy cultivation.

 And also, regarding organic fertiliser, the government will provide a sum of Rs 20,000 for the farmers to buy organic fertiliser. Therefore, a fertiliser shortage is not expected in the next cultivation season as all factors have been considered. Even if an unforeseen situation arises, we are well armed to face it as we are financially secure to face the next cultivation season. 

Q What are your plans to avoid an impending food crisis predicted by many experts?
It is well evident that there is a global food crisis. When turning to our country, there was a possibility that we would also face a food crisis, but our farmers envisaged the situation and started cultivating considerably in higher amounts in this season. When I took up the Ministry, only 248,000 hectares were cultivated across the island. But when the Ministry assured the supply of fertilisers, 248,000 increased to 512,000 hectares. Simply put, this is the highest cultivated Yala season in history. Therefore there is an increase in production in the country. Frankly speaking, I do not say that we are 100 per cent food secure, but we have shown considerable progress relative to the previous situation. 

In addition, we are experiencing high import prices due to the rupee depreciation, and the consumers are having a hard time with it. Therefore we should strive to be self-sufficient within the country itself; thus, food security will be ensured. 

Q What are the global factors that affect food supply and security here?
I do not think that currently, we are witnessing any such special factors that have an impact on us. Our farmers and our history have given us exceptional techniques in the field of cultivation. An amalgamation of both traditional and modern methods is used by our farmers in the current context. Therefore the target of the Ministry is to promote cultivation and self-sufficiency, thereby leading to self-sufficiency in rice by 2023.

Q Most foods are now out of reach of consumers due to very high prices. What can be done to address this issue?
Yes, many food items are currently unaffordable; the only solution is to increase production. Eggs and chicken have become a hot topic due to their higher prices. The reason behind this was the high feeding cost and unavailability of feeding items among poultry and egg producers. 

As a solution, maize and soybean farming will be considerably increased to minimise the gravity of the situation. We will also provide fertiliser to maize cultivation at a concessionary price. Registered poultry feed makers could import maize and Soybean with the approval of the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, but as the Minister, I mainly focus on directing the country to a self-sufficient state; the Ministry plans to increase the cultivated land area by at least three times than last year. 

Milk production has also decreased to a greater extent, and high feed costs and unavailability of feeding items are considered to be the main reason behind this. And also, 99 per cent of our chillies are imported. As a result, Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Agriculture has started a green chillies cultivation campaign to meet 20 per cent of the country’s demand locally, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said

Q What is the progress of the import substitution programme whereby the government wanted to stop the imports of crops that can be grown here?
When I was the Agriculture Minister in 2018, I introduced ‘jumbo peanuts’ to curtail the import of groundnuts. The new groundnut variety was introduced at the Grain Legume and Oil Crops Research and Development Centre at Angunakolapelessa. It was successful, and we do not import groundnuts anymore. Green gram and chickpea are also not imported now as we have increased production. 
We also have started a programme to increase fruit production in the country as we import a substantial amount of fruits. 

QThe Government and UNICEF seem to be having a tussle over malnutrition figures in SL. What is your take on this?
UNICEF presented a report based on facts dating to somewhere between 2016 and 2018. Sri Lanka’s Health Ministry has also rejected the recent report by UNICEF. Personally, I do not believe that any survey is foolproof to derive 100% accurate conclusions. Since every report is a product of a sample, different hypotheses can be presented, but a report cannot depict a solid judgement about any situation. 

Q The organic fertiliser fiasco was one factor that led to the former President’s downfall. Are you giving it up altogether? There are some crops where it has shown some promise.
We have not entirely put an end to organic farming. If a particular farmer prefers organic farming, the government is all in with those farmers. But in general, what the Ministry proposes is an amalgamation of both organic and chemical fertiliser; accordingly, 70 per cent of chemical fertiliser and 30 per cent of organic fertiliser is our take on this. Therefore we are ready to provide organic fertiliser at concessionary prices too. 

Q Turning to politics, you seem to have fallen out of favour with the SLFP leadership, and you could be evicted from the party. What is your comment?
I do not think that I will be evicted from the party. If I am evicted, all the other members who have joined the government will have to be evicted. If it is the case, there will be no members of SLFP 

Q On the other hand, almost eight of the 14 SLFPers have joined the government. Could this mean the end of the SLFP as a single political entity?
Very responsibly, I say not only eight, but there will be more to join the government. At this stage, I would not like to mention the names and give exact figures, but there are more to come, I assure you. As a political entity, SLFP should strive to keep its members within the party while they hold Ministerial Portfolios. What is the issue of taking up a Ministry? 

There are many groups within the parliament, NPP, SJB, TNA, a separate entity of Champika Ranawaka, Dullas Alahapperuma and also from Wimal Weerawansa. Therefore, I do not believe that SLFP should also be one entity that believes only in personal progress. 

So I propose that the SLFP join hands with the President’s move to reduce the miseries of our own people. There will be no other chance to offer our best as a political party to Sri Lanka. I do not believe and wish that SLFP leadership would lead the party to a dead end. I am hopeful that they will take the best decision in favour of the country as well as the party. 

Q What is your take on the appointment of 38 state ministers and around 12 more Cabinet Ministers yet to be appointed? Can the country afford such a large number of Ministers at this stage?
In this case, more than the government, outside parties are to be held responsible. If they claimed that there should only be 15 Cabinet Ministers and 15 State Ministers, they could have joined the government and devised better solutions. Instead, all the parties in the opposition are evading the crisis and are only seeking to rile up the people and grab power at an opportune moment.

I agree that additional Ministerial Portfolios are an extra burden to the country. But on the other side, if those appointed Ministers and State Ministers perform exceptionally by fully committing to the betterment of the country, these newly appointed Ministers and State Ministers will become a blessing in disguise. 

Q Many express the sentiment that the current government has no mandate or legitimacy. Do you agree with this view that an election should be held as soon as possible?
 Given the current circumstances, no party can assure people’s mandate. Not a single political entity can confirm 50 per cent of the people’s mandate, not at least 25 per cent. Therefore no one can guarantee that this political party or that political party has a mandate. So the current government is a result of the constitution; therefore, we cannot claim this is illegal. Consequently, I do not think that we should hurry for an election. 

QDo you agree with the notion that the President is a hostage of the SLPP and has to do what it wants?
No, I’m not at all convinced that he is a hostage to anybody, on top of all who thought that he would become the Prime Minister and then the President. He has a different agenda, and he has his plans. External interference is impossible when it comes to Ranil Wickremesinghe. 

Anyhow it is necessary to have the support of the SLPP because they consist of the majority in the parliament. So if the parties outside the government are apprehensive about Ranil Wickremesinghe becoming a hostage of SLPP, they should soon join the government and turn the tables.