Development at cost

Monday, 28 May 2012 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Last week Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector saw a first – exporting of maize. This was a welcome development for maize farmers as they now have the possibility of getting better prices for their produce. So upbeat is the Government about this that it has decided to promote the growing of gourmet rice for export and is looking at new markets for vegetable and fruit produced in the country.

This has inspired politicians and officials alike with many giving programmes such as ‘Divi Neguma’ the credit for increased vegetable production, which has resulted in lower prices. In fact, the call has even come for an increase in consumption of milk and eggs so that farmers will not have to smash eggs or dump thousands of litres of milk on the roads to gain a market. Unfortunately, changing consumption patterns cannot happen overnight; nor can value additions be made to produce cheese, yoghurt and curd at lower prices for more people to be able to afford them.

While these should be among the eventual goals of achievement for both the private sector as well as the Government, it was reported over the weekend that a severe oversight had occurred. Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena has rejected the site picked for a domestic airport in Kandy on the grounds that the site is considered a ‘national treasure,’ which had been initially selected by the British for agricultural studies.

Some 300 acres which encompasses the Agriculture School in Karandagolla, Kundasale, was selected by Minister Keheliya Rambukwella after President Mahinda Rajapaksa directed the construction. Abeywardena said the location was the only place which experienced weather conditions of the dry zone as well as the wet zone, enabling the carrying out of cultivations for research purposes, including the production of seed. In addition, the agriculture school has produced a large number of agricultural experts.

He said that the Air Force was already in the process of carrying out the preliminary studies for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), but as the Minister of Agriculture he will not allow the project to go ahead at that location. Such a policy would be wise as food is more important for a country than airports. However, different land could surely be procured elsewhere without having such a drastic effect of agriculture. It is unfortunate that a Government so enamoured with agriculture could make such serious oversights.

In a separate report a court case has been filed over land procured by the Government in Thalawathugoda. The owner of the land claims that it was taken over for a flood retention project, but the land was later filled, not only undermining its purpose but also resulting in an illegal act as land used for agriculture cannot be filled in Sri Lanka.

Lack of transparent policies and public engagement when selecting land for development projects has long caused tension and it is unfortunate that these situations are allowed to continue. Sites cannot be selected without a deep investigation into the adverse impacts that it will have and since the public have little faith in EIA reports, that guardianship falls to the people.

Development is wanted by everyone, but it cannot be at any cost.