Letters to the Editor
View(s):Time to look at underutilised food sources
Despite Sri Lanka’s abundance of agricultural resources, food security remains a significant challenge, with nearly one-third of the population living below the poverty line. Utilising unexploited agricultural commodities in the food processing industry could play a vital role in addressing food security issues in the country.
The agricultural food processing industry plays a crucial role in the economy by adding value to raw agricultural products and transforming them into processed foods that can be sold domestically and exported to international markets. The industry provides direct and indirect employment opportunities for a significant number of people, contributes to the country’s foreign exchange earnings and supports the overall growth and development of the food and agricultural sectors.
While Sri Lanka is self-sufficient in certain staple crops such as rice, there is a need to diversify the food supply to ensure adequate nutrition for all. This is where the utilisation of unexploited agricultural commodities comes into play.
There are a variety of crops such as jak fruit, breadfruit, yams, sweet potato, unexploited fruits, vegetables and several types of edible seaweed that have much potential to be utilised in the food processing industry. These are currently underutilised due to a lack of awareness of their potential value, limited processing facilities and inadequate infrastructure facilities. They are not only nutritious but also have a low environmental impact and are well adapted to Sri Lanka’s climate and soil conditions.
By processing these crops into value-added food products, the food processing industry can create new markets and increase their value, provide additional income for farmers and contribute to the country’s overall economic development. The availability of diverse food products can provide consumers with a wider range of food options.
There are already some examples of successful utilisation of underutilised crops in Sri Lanka’s food processing industry. However, there are still challenges that need to be addressed such as the lack of infrastructure and technology for processing these crops on a large scale. There is a need for research and development to identify the best processing methods for each crop and to develop new products that meet consumer demand.
The agricultural food processing industry is a critical component of Sri Lanka’s economy, providing employment opportunities, adding value to agricultural products, generating foreign exchange earnings, ensuring food security and driving technological innovation. It is essential that the government and private sector continue to invest in this industry to support its growth and development in the current economic conditions.
The food processing industry in Sri Lanka too is still in its infancy, with limited processing capabilities and infrastructure. However, with the right investment and support, it too has the potential to become a significant contributor to the country’s economy and food security.
Prof. Janaka Wijesinghe Via email
Saving Yala: Some suggestions
Saving Yala by Kumudini Hettiarachchi in the Sunday Times Plus of March 19, quotes Dr. Sumith Pilapitiya on the proposed measures to be taken to instill discipline within the NP. It’s a good initiative, but unfortunately may get postponed due to lack of will and political interference.
I would additionally propose that all visitors’ bags should be checked to ensure that no one is carrying liquor bottles (or camouflaged liquor mixes) into the park, which is the No.1 reason for misbehaviour, as Sri Lankans are well known for their “Dutch courage”. Secondly, officials need to install CCTV cameras at crucial points which should be monitored to detect the trouble makers. These could reduce misbehaviour to a large extent.
Additional tree planting in Block 1 (fruit trees) where there are many areas devoid of vegetation, could could also help the food chain to thrive in the long run.
N. V. Jen Via email
A nuclear powerplant in Sri Lanka: Why?
In summary, nuclear energy for Sri Lanka:
- Is too big and early as we don’t have the money and can’t build it ourselves.
- It will push Sri Lanka more profoundly into the debt crisis more or less permanently as we have to borrow every dollar again.
- It is a leap backwards when the whole world is moving towards renewable energy.
- It is a project designed to completely lose our independence as we invite Russia’s geopolitics with complete dependence on nuclear waste removal.
- All of us should be aware of the dangers of a nuclear disaster. This is because at least an area of at least 35 miles radius will be completely inhabitable for centuries to come.
- It is perfect for the oligarchs but very bad for ordinary citizens. We will be in the same crisis; we need dollars to import uranium instead of diesel and coal.
We believe the proposal to install a nuclear power plant in Sri Lanka in collaboration with Russia amidst bankruptcy is an ill-conceived ‘death trap’ for our homeland. It contradicts the Parliament-approved Ceylon Electricity Board’s (CEB) Long-Term Generation Plan (LTGP) of 2021. The timing and motives behind it are unclear.
Our country became ‘bankrupt’ not because its people are lazy or economically less productive but because of massive corruption that has taken place over the decades by the politicians and their stooges. Scam after scam followed, and ‘politically’ motivated mega vanity projects were undertaken using long-term high-interest loans with’ kickbacks’ to the rulers and brokers.
Sadly, nuclear power is not a resolution to our power crisis. The power crisis was caused by the lack of foreign reserves in dollars to import fuel (diesel and coal) for our thermal power plants. Nuclear power plants need uranium, which must be imported using dollars. Thus, nuclear power plants offer no resolution to the current problem’s root cause. It will also not resolve the power crisis as atomic power plants take at least ten years to build and commission.
Sri Lanka has not fully explored and proposed alternative power generation sources, which could be achieved sooner and at a much lower cost. Given below is a summary of the alternatives and their status in the following table (with traffic light colours).
Russia has been shunned as an unreliable supplier by EU after being blackmailed since the Ukraine War. What assurance is there to learn that they would keep to the promises given this history?
We feel this matter should be subject to a national consultation in future when appropriate. It is certainly not an appropriate project at this moment amidst this current crisis.
Chula Goonasekera (On behalf of LEADS forum)
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