National Agricultural Policy final draft ready; to be presented in P’ment

• Minister Mahinda Amaraweera blames lack of a national policy as key cause for agriculture sector to lag
• Stresses a permanent agricultural policy will ensure it does not change from Government to Government and from Minister to Minister

The draft of the first ever National Agricultural Policy has been finalised and will be presented in Parliament shortly by the subject Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.

The expert committee appointed to prepare the National Agricultural Policy informed the Agriculture Minister this week that the final draft has been completed.

The development follows Minister Amaraweera appointing a committee consisting of scholars to represent all sectors to prepare the national policy.

Former Agriculture Director Generals, Ministry Secretaries as well as university professors and agricultural representatives were added in the committee including Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe, Prof. Udith Jayasinghe, Prof. Palitha Weerakkody, Prof. M.B. Rathnathilaka, Dr. B.V.R. Punyawardena, Dr. D.S. Kuruppuarachchi, former Director Generals of Agriculture Dr. Ajanta de Silva and Dr. W.M.M Weerakoon.

Minister Amaraweera instructed the committee to get opinions and suggestions from all sectors in order to formulate a permanent agricultural policy that does not change from Government to Government and from Minister to Minister.

During the meeting this week, the expert committee informed the Minister that they received ideas and suggestions for the development of the agriculture sector so that every sector is represented.

The Minister said that the final draft will be submitted to the parliament for approval, and after that everyone should work for the implementation of the new Agriculture Act.

“As it is important to formulate an agriculture policy, it is everyone’s responsibility to implement the points mentioned in that policy. The views and suggestions of the members of parliament have been presented in the new agricultural national policy. That’s a good point. The National Agriculture Policy has received everyone’s attention,” Minister Amaraweera said.

“Agriculture in this country suffered a tragic fate today because we did not have a national policy. A country that was self-sufficient in rice fell back due to lack of policy. This year, $400 million have been spent on the import of rice in a period of 10 months. Officials are also responsible for this situation. Our country’s agriculture has not progressed as the world’s agriculture has progressed. Therefore, it is necessary to give everyone’s support for the implementation of the national agricultural policy,” the Minister said at the meeting at which Ministry Secretary Gunadasa Samarasinghe was also present.