A delegation from Zhengzhou city in China meets with Mr. K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation.
A delegation from Zhengzhou city in China arrived at the Govijana Mandiraya today (19th) to meet with Mr. K.D. Lalkantha, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation. Attention was focused on agricultural sector of Sri Lanka.
There is a long-standing friendship between Sri Lanka and China economically and culturally. Zhengzhou city in China is a city that has gained fame in agriculture and the industrial sector. Agriculture-based industries are highly developed within China’s food production process. Especially storage and cold storage facilities are at a high level. On this occasion, the Chinese delegation also extended a special invitation to the Minister for a visit to China.
Speaking on this occasion, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation Mr. K.D. Lalkantha mentioned that China’s visit to Sri Lanka at such a time is very important. At this time, Sri Lanka has been affected by disasters in the sectors of agriculture, livestock, irrigation, export crops, and minor export crops. Although there has been some damage to paddy cultivation due to the disaster situation, according to our belief, it can be rebuilt in such a way that it does not create a major problem for the country’s food security. Some destruction has occurred in the livestock sector due to the disaster. After paddy cultivation, the second cereal production in our country is maize. Maize is mostly used as animal feed. Normally, only about 50% of the country’s maize requirement is produced domestically. There is also a problem of increasing the extent of land for maize cultivation due to land scarcity. Our attention is also focused on the possibility of increasing rice production in the future and using it as animal feed.
When considering the irrigation sector, we have a very good irrigation system. With the disaster, a considerable amount of our minor irrigation systems have collapsed. At present, they are being temporarily repaired very quickly. There have been no major problems regarding major irrigation. Generally, problems have now emerged regarding our hilly areas. In the future, changes will have to be made in the hilly regions. The question has arisen whether the people and cultivated lands in those areas should be removed from there. Nationally sustainable solutions must be sought for this. The Minister emphasized that he looks forward to working further in cooperation with China.
On this occasion, Mr. D.P. Wickremasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, also expressed his views.
The Secretary focused his attention on post-harvest losses that occur in agriculture. He pointed out that raising the living standards of the farmer is our expectation and that the current government is working to the maximum for this. He also showed that a program for providing substantial compensation for the damages suffered by farmers due to the disaster situation is in operation, and its ultimate aim is to provide facilities to the farmer.
On this occasion, the Chinese delegation presented several proposals regarding agriculture in Sri Lanka. Improving infrastructure in the agricultural sector, enhancing early warning technology for climate disasters, and taking urgent steps to provide necessary remedies for this were among those proposals.
The Minister further pointed out here that it is his expectation to maintain the friendship that exists between China and Sri Lanka in the future as well by further developing relations between the two countries.
