Agriculture Academics representing all the Agriculture Faculties in Sri Lanka along with some other Agriculture Professionals, sent a letter to the Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, requesting to facilitate a meeting with the President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to discuss possible effective means to overcome the present crisis in Agriculture sector of the country.
Agriculture Professionals say they appreciated President’s vision for a toxin-free nation, however his advisors have not only failed to succinctly provide the requisite advice but also a strategy and a viable action plan at the ground level towards a ’healthy agriculture’.
“Converting the country’s agriculture to 100% organic within a season or two is impossible. We must note that the situation has been aggravated owing to the delays to meet the demand by way of organic and/or synthetic chemical inputs in the requisite quantities” they further say.
“President’s close advisors are highly biased and ignorant of vital facts relating to agriculture. Many senior officers appear to be non-committal and adopting a ‘save the skin’ attitude, virtually saying yes to everything to please the President”
Taking into account experiences of other countries’ achievements in promoting organic farming and the intrinsic potential of organic farming with the related current technologies, we would like to propose a course of action in agriculture that is consistent with the vision of the government and at the same time acceptable to farmers.
Full Letter
Overcoming the Current Agriculture Crisis
We, as a senior group of agricultural researchers and academia, would be pleased to propose a course of action, which should be consistent with the Government’s vision for a healthy and green agriculture. We willingly became signatories to this letter to propose solutions acceptable to all parties including the farmers, the majority of whom are relentlessly and adamantly demanding to continue with conventional agriculture as they know it.
You will appreciate that pursuing a goal of converting the country’s agriculture to 100% organic within a season or two is impossible as evident from the recent happenings and farmers’ revolt demanding for fertilizer and pesticides. We must note that the situation has been aggravated owing to the delays to meet the demand by way of organic and/or synthetic chemical inputs in the requisite quantities.
While accepting the fact that His Excellency the President is not an expert in agriculture, but his vision for a toxin-free nation should be appreciated. Unfortunately, however, his advisors have not only failed to succinctly provide the requisite advice but also a strategy and a viable action plan at the ground level towards a ’healthy agriculture’.
It is also evident from recent discourses that some of his close advisors are highly biased and ignorant of vital facts relating to our agriculture. At the same time, many senior officers appear to be non-committal and adopting a ‘save the skin’ attitude, virtually saying yes to everything to please the President.
Taking into account experiences of other countries’ achievements in promoting organic farming and the intrinsic potential of organic farming with the related current technologies, we would like to propose a course of action in agriculture that is consistent with the vision of the government and at the same time acceptable to farmers.
In this regard we seek an audience with HE the President, and shall be pleased if you could arrange it. (LankaXpress.com)
