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Committee stage debate on votes for ministries
The country imports over 1.2 million tonnes of chemical fertilizer a year, Minister of Agriculture, Rural Economic Affairs, Livestock Development, Irrigation and Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development P Harrison told Parliament on Friday (22) during the debate on the Expenditure Head of his Ministry.
Mr Harrison further disclosed that over 4,000 metric tonnes of agrochemicals were also being imported each year. This used to be over 8,000 metric tonnes, but the amount of agrochemicals being imported has almost halved following the ban on glyphosate, he remarked.
The minister noted that it was important to reflect on these numbers given that, while the country was talking about “poison-free agriculture,” the vast majority of farming lands in the country are being saturated with chemicals. He stressed that people can do their part by growing poison-free crops in their own gardens.
United People’s Freedom Alliance (UPFA) MP Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena alleged that, despite the Government’s assurances, paddy farmers were still finding it extremely difficult to sell their paddy stocks. There were no places to sell paddy, and the Government wasn’t buying stocks either, allowing black market dealers to buy paddy stocks, he charged.
Minister Harrison refuted the allegations, claiming that all 210 warehouses belonging to the Paddy Marketing Board were currently open. The Government had already purchased 28,000 metric tonnes of paddy, he added. Mr Harrison said that funds needed to purchase paddy had been sent to the district secretaries, but pledged to look into any shortcomings.
UPFA MP Wijith Wijayamuni Zoysa urged the Government to look into setting up an insurance scheme for fishermen, pointing out the hazards of the profession and noting that many families of fishermen who had lost their lives at sea were facing enormous difficulties. He further emphasised the need to put in place measures to protect the country’s fish stocks.
Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) MP Nihal Galappatti pointed out that, according to available statistics, Sri Lanka had imported 90,000 metric tonnes of fish during the past 11 years. “We have a fishing fleet consisting of thousands of vessels and are surrounded by ocean. How ridiculous is it then that we have to spend so much money to import fish?”
UPFA MP Chamal Rajapaksa said the changing of agricultural policies with the change of Governments was a major issue. “I propose that a single policy should be in place for at least 20 years, irrespective of which Government comes to power,” he stressed.
UNP MP Ven Athuraliye Rathana Thera, who has been at the forefront of the campaign against glyphosate, hit out at both the Government and the Opposition for obstructing plans to ban glyphosate completely in the country. “We also tried to replace the fertilizer subsidy by giving the farmers money, but even the Opposition insisted on giving fertilizer. Why are MPs so keen on fertilizer? This is a massive scam that involves commissions,” he alleged.