Sri Lanka to Introduce Plan For Reducing the Dependency on Imported Food

An Action plan will be implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Services to reduce imports of food that can be grown locally such as potatoes, onions, maize and kurakkan.
Accordingly steps will be taken to expand the area under the above mentioned crops by 50,000 hectares. The Government would also take steps to obtain currently fallow land in a number of districts and provide incentives to farmers to cultivate such lands. The farmers would receive a grant of Rs. 3,000 per acre to purchase seed and for land preparation.

The districts in the Western, Sabaragamuwa, Southern and North Western Provinces, where arable land remained unutilized will be targeted in the action plan and the appropriate technology for pest control and increased yields will be introduced to farmers.

According to Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara large quantities of these food items were being imported at great cost to the country even though they could be grown successfully here with appropriate technology applied to reap high yields.

Additional Secretary of the Ministry S. M. A. L. Gunatillake said 600 million rupees has been allocated by the Ministry to provide incentives to farmers who open up new or fallow lands for essential food crops.

Source: Government of Sri Lanka

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