Curbing post-harvest losses
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Heaps and heaps of rotting vegetables and fruits. Some of the ‘memorable’ clicks by photojournalists have been that of rotting veggies at the Dambulla Dedicated Economic Centre (DDEC), forced on farmers who are unable to sell their produce when sale prices drop sharply compared to their ‘asking’ prices (calculating their own cost of production and inputs plus a small profit), purely because there has been an oversupply of vegetables. And with no way to store the excess harvest, it goes to waste.Now comes the news that Sri Lanka and India last week signed an agreement to build a temperature-controlled agricultural warehouse in Dambulla in a Rs. 524 million joint initiative, with a Rs. 300 million grant from the Indian Government. But wait, is this a new project? Wasn’t a similar arrangement signed during the Yahapalanaya 2015-2019 regime in which then Minister Harsha de Silva played a vital role in initiating this development? More on that later.
Agriculture is the lifeblood of the nation and the DDEC is considered Sri Lanka’s main hub for vegetable and fruit distribution and the new project is expected to significantly minimise post-harvest losses, which currently stand at around 40 per cent, reduce price fluctuations and ensure the delivery of good-quality agro-produce to consumers around the country, according to a statement issued by the government after President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed several agreements to kick-start India’s support to Sri Lanka under President Dissanayake’s tenure.
The phone rang at home when I had just started writing my column. “Hi……how is Avurudu?” asked Pedris Appo – short for Appuhamy, a retired agriculture expert who does farming, after exchanging the usual pleasantries. “Fine, fine, our newspaper is printing early this week owing to the Avurudu weekend,” I said.
“I was a bit surprised and disappointed that Harsha de Silva’s role in the cold storage facility at Dambulla, a ‘new’ project signed during the Indian PM’s visit, was not acknowledged,” he said. “Harsha (then a minister in 2015-2019) was the main initiator of this project and his role should have been recognised by the NPP government. He has publicly expressed his disappointment that his role was not acknowledged,” I said.
“Harsha is not just a clever politician but a far-thinking one. Not only was he involved in this cold storage facility, but he also initiated a programme to give on-time market information to farmers. One also cannot forget his role in the Ambulance Service 1990 with Indian help, one of the most successful projects benefiting the masses in the country,” he said. “Well it’s still not too late to acknowledge the former Minister’s role in the Dambulla facility,” I said.
Walking to the kitchen, I found a plate of Avurudu food. Grabbing a ‘kavum’ and sipping tea, I heard the trio (with a few more days for Avurudu) chatting under the margosa tree. “Mama asawen bala-innawa mae avurudu sama-rumata magey gamey (I am looking forward to this year’s Avurudu celebration in the village),” said Kussi Amma Sera. “Seeni saha piti thama harima ganan. Eka prashnayak mama kaemethi avurudu kevili hadanna (Sugar and flour are still very costly to make our favourite Avurudu food),” said Mabel Rasthiyadu. “Mama bohoma kaemethi api gam wala kreeda walata avurudu kaleta. Mata magey lama kalaya mathak wenawa (What I enjoy most are the games we play. It reminds me of my childhood),” noted Serapina.
According to a government statement, the Dambulla warehouse is a first-of-its-kind facility in the country, divided into six chambers, each with independent temperature and humidity controls and each capable of holding around 30,000 crates. The facility is fully equipped with a receiving area, sorting area, pre-cooling and post-heating chambers and a service area complete with administrative units, stores and a quality control lab.
Going back in time, the previous project to set up a cold storage facility in Dambulla was launched on March 27, 2019. It was named the ‘first-ever Temperature Controlled Cold Storage Facility for Perishables in Dambulla’ and similarly involved a Rs. 300 million grant from the Indian government.
Construction of this facility with a capacity of 5,000 metric tonnes and capable of storing the excess harvest of vegetables and fruits was initiated by then Economic Reforms and Public Distribution Minister Dr. Harsha de Silva and India Deputy High Commissioner Dr. Shilpak N. Ambule on March 27 on the land near the Dambulla Economic Centre. “The cold storage complex in Dambulla will comprise six separated sections of different temperature and humidity levels. Using this facility, the farmers in the area will be able to store their excess harvest at a concessionary price for a much longer period,” according to one media report at that time.
It was scheduled to be completed within six months (that is around end-September 2019). But the work was stalled by the Easter Sunday attacks on April 21, 2019 followed by the Presidential election in November which was won by Gotabaya Rajapaksa. According to current projections, the facility should be ready by October-November this year, helping farmers immensely to cut their post-harvest losses.
According to a research study done by P.D.S. Greshan V.D. Kithsiri on the DDEC, 20 per cent of the harvest of vegetables and fruits is wasted while being transported due to improper delivery techniques. The Ministry of Internal Trade and Cooperatives has found that over 30 per cent of vegetables and fruits get wasted at the DDEC.
“The middlemen and the DDEC play the role of the intermediator. However, the middlemen’s role has been failing though it was important before the DDEC came to existence. The respondents have mentioned that the middlemen have less awareness or do not share the information about the market demand and supply of vegetables. Most of the farmers bring their products directly to the DDEC without involving the middlemen. Therefore, the middlemen’s role could be removed as it would add cost to the product. Further, the role of the middlemen will disappear if modern technology and real-time information systems are introduced to the DDEC operations and link the farmers to those systems,” the study said.
Well it’s time to enjoy another ‘kavum’ ahead of the Avurudu weekend. So what is my wish-list today? A happy Avurudu ‘kale’ (period) and peace and prosperity to the nation and its people.
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