Anuradha Tennakoon, Chairman of the Farmers' National Agricultural Federation, has criticised the Sri Lankan government for not implementing measures to strengthen the country's agricultural production economy, despite being in office for a year.
Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Tennakoon pointed to the continued importation of food crops such as onions, potatoes, and garlic, which he argued can be successfully cultivated locally. He said these imports are leaving farmers without support and damaging the domestic sector.
He alleged that 96% of Sri Lanka's onion requirements are currently met through imports. "The country was self-sufficient in onions 10 to 15 years ago. It is the government's responsibility to provide concessional programmes for farmers in the coming seasons," Tennakoon stated.
Potatoes were also highlighted as a challenge, with high domestic production costs making them less competitive against imported produce. "Taxes were levied on imported goods after they were imported. This government did something like closing the stable after the horses had left," Tennakoon said.
He warned that the government's failure to reduce vegetable production costs more broadly poses risks for the sector. "This government was appointed to correct and rebuild the collapse of the agricultural production economy caused by previous administrations. If it continues with old habits, the future of the country's agricultural sector is in jeopardy," Tennakoon added.
Source: Daily Mirror Online