Author Archive for Agriculture

Forty Asia-Pacific Countries Unite For An Agrifood Systems Transformation To Ensure Food Security Of Future Generations

Thursday, February 22nd, 2024

Press Release: UN FAO 22/02/2024, Colombo – Forty countries from the Asia and Pacific region today agreed that transforming agrifood systems was imperative to providing food security for their children’s generation and beyond, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reported today. The summation was delivered at today’s close of the 37th Session of […]

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Sri Lanka Cabinet approves cannabis cultivation for Export

Monday, February 5th, 2024

Courtesy Hiru News The Sri Lankan cabinet has granted approval for the cultivation of cannabis for export purposes, marking a significant move towards harnessing the economic potential of the plant. The cabinet paper, presented by Diana Gamage, Minister of State for Tourism, received favorable responses, with the minister expressing her satisfaction with the decision. The […]

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Sri Lanka’s coconut industry in crisis

Wednesday, December 13th, 2023

by Arundathie Abeysinghe Courtesy PIME Asia News Corruption and labour shortages are among the causes, but the latest challenge comes from President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s budget proposal to increase VAT by 18 per cent. For some observers, the sector is on the verge of collapse. Colombo (AsiaNews) – Sri Lanka’s coconut industry is facing a major […]

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Egg incubators from China

Friday, December 8th, 2023

Prime Minister’s Media Unit Egg incubators are distributed with the objective of strengthening the rural economy and empowering small-scale poultry farm owners. With the objective of strengthening the rural economy and empowering small-scale poultry farm owners, 100  egg incubators were distributed today (2023.12.08) under the patronage of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena at the Temple Trees.Acceding […]

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President Ranil unveils plans to revive Sri Lanka’s agricultural exports; establish Agro–Technology University

Thursday, November 23rd, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana In a significant and forward-looking speech at the 25th Presidential Awards of the Export Development Board (EDB), held today at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), President Ranil Wickremesinghe outlined a comprehensive plan to revitalize Sri Lanka’s agricultural sector for export, acknowledging past challenges and missed opportunities. The President also underscored the […]

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Sri Lanka’s Coconut Export Revolution

Saturday, November 11th, 2023

By Randeewa Malalasooriya President, Coconut Milk Manufacturers Association Courtesy Ceylon Today In recent times, Sri Lanka has been rethinking its approach to exports in response to global economic changes. It’s moving away from its traditional exports like tea and rubber and exploring new avenues to make the most of its rich agricultural resources. Coconut: A […]

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Amid socioeconomic slump, new sugar cane varieties offer hope in Sri Lanka

Wednesday, October 25th, 2023

by Manasee Weerathunga Courtesy MONGABAY COLOMBO — Sri Lanka is a nation where agriculture is a pivotal factor of the country’s economy. However, the past two years were bleak for the agriculture sector following the government’s agrochemical importation ban in April 2021, triggering a severe economic and food crisis. Although the financial nosedive also impacted scientific research and […]

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Export Agriculture Dept. earns over Rs. 86bn in first half of 2023

Saturday, September 2nd, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana As per the statistics of the Department of Export Agriculture, Sri Lanka’s agriculture exports earned a revenue of over Rs. 86 billion thus far in 2023, in comparison to the earnings recorded over the last five years. Commenting on the matter, Development Director of the Department Upul Ranaweera explained that the revenue was […]

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Ample domestic rice reserves available: Agri. Minister assures

Thursday, August 24th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has assured that the country has ample stocks of rice that can sustain the upcoming Maha cultivation season. Hence, there is no need for rice imports, the lawmaker told a gathering of experts organized by the President’s Trade Union Relations Division at the Presidential Secretariat on Wednesday (Aug. 23). […]

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Sri Lanka invites Chinese experts to begin pilot project on high-yielding paddy farming

Friday, August 18th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana After a brief but productive visit to Yunnan capital Kunming to attend the 7th China-South Asia Expo, Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena reached the ancient capital of the province, Dali City, known for agriculture research in addition to being a major tourist attraction. He first visited the Science and Technology Campus on […]

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Plans to establish Agriculture and Plantation Research University in Sri Lanka – Minister

Monday, July 24th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana Minister of Plantation Industries and Minister of Industries, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana stated that action will be taken to establish an Agriculture and Plantation Research University by merging all institutions connected to the plantation industry and agriculture sector, as per President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s concept.  The fundamental draft related to this has already been prepared, […]

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FAO launches training programme for 300 Agriculture Extension Officers in Sri Lanka

Thursday, July 20th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) will conduct training programmes for 300 Agriculture Extension Officers in Sri Lanka under an European Union (EU) funded project in order to boost Sri Lanka’s rice sector, the FAO announced. The programme comes as part of an innovative project titled RiceUP, launched by […]

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Gota’s shift to organic farming led to 50% drop in rice yield during 2021/22 Maha season: HARTI

Thursday, May 25th, 2023

Courtesy The Daily Mirror The sudden shift to organic farming in 2021 by former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa resulted in a drop of more than 50 percent in paddy yield in the 2021/2022 Maha season, according to a research. The then government enacted the Import and Export Regulations No. 7 of 2021 which banned the import […]

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Japan provides $ 4.6 million through FAO to boost paddy production in Sri Lanka

Tuesday, May 16th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana The Government of Japan through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is providing USD 4,629,629 to strengthen the production capacity of smallholder paddy farmers in identified districts of the Dry and Intermediate Zones of Sri Lanka. Smallholder farmers are amongst the most vulnerable rural communities, predominantly cultivating rice for […]

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EU and FAO launch 4 mn Euro initiative to improve Sri Lanka’s paddy farming

Saturday, April 22nd, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO, together with the European Union (EU), today (22 April) officially launched a new programme to strengthen food security in Sri Lanka by boosting the productivity and sustainability of the paddy cultivation sector. The four million Euro (approximately Rs. 1.5 billion) initiative funded by […]

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Agri. Secretary confirms request from private company to export monkeys to China

Thursday, April 20th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana The Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Gunadasa Samarasinghe, has confirmed China’s request to import 100,000 toque macaque monkeys from the cash-strapped island nation amidst protests from several environmentalists against the deal. Speaking to Indian media, Samarasinghe said that a privately-owned animal breeding Chinese company, connected to zoological gardens, had made the request […]

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The right way to tackle the monkey menace.

Monday, April 17th, 2023

By P.k. Balachandran Courtesy Ceylon Today Last week, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera announced that the Government is considering a Chinese proposal to import 100,000 ‘toque monkeys’ from Sri Lanka for 1,000 zoos in that country. The international media promptly commented that the deal stemmed from Sri Lanka’s dire need for foreign exchange. The Indian […]

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President launches island wide program to plant 3M jackfruit trees

Sunday, April 2nd, 2023

Courtesy The Daily Mirror The first phase of the program to plant three million jackfruit trees across the country, under the theme ‘Guwan Hamuda Herali Perali’, was launched today at the Anuradhapura Air Force Base under the patronage of President Ranil Wickremesinghe. This program has been implemented in conjunction with the government’s food security program […]

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Truth behind the tragedy of modern agriculture

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

Courtesy The Daily Mirror  About 64 percent of the imported urea in Sri Lanka is used for paddy cultivation, but only 20-40 percent of it is actually absorbedThere are farmers who overcame the challenge posed by the chemical fertilizer ban brought about in 2021 GovernmentIn contrast to other countries, Sri Lanka shows limited interest in […]

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Busting the myth of Sri Lanka’s weak agricultural past 

Saturday, April 1st, 2023

By Vinod Moonesinghe/www.medium.com Courtesy NewsIn.Asia The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” – L.P. Hartley, The go-between Recent shortages of milk powder, wheat flour and even rice have brought into perspective Sri Lanka’s lack of food security. The situation has been exacerbated by growing dependence on imports of wheat — which […]

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US-funded 36,000 MT of TSP fertilizer handed over to Agri. Ministry

Sunday, March 19th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana More than a million Sri Lankan paddy farmers in all 25 districts will get vital assistance through a shipment of over 36,000 metric tons of fertilizer handed over today by the United States to the Ministry of Agriculture, says the United States Embassy in Sri Lanka. The shipment of Triple Super Phosphate (TSP), […]

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‘Israel has developed advanced technologies and methods for water conservation and management’

Saturday, March 18th, 2023

By Abhinav Singh Courtesy The Week Tammy Ben-Haim is the Consul General of Israel to South India, based in Bengaluru. Haim is a highly experienced diplomat with 18 years of experience in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 25 years in the civil service. Most recently Haim was the Minister for Public Diplomacy in the […]

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Sri Lanka tea industry to fully recover next year

Monday, February 27th, 2023

Courtesy NewsIn.Asia Feb 27 (Bernama) – Sri Lanka’s tea production is expected to fully recover next year after last year’s drop, the country’s Environment Minister Naseer Ahamed said. The tea industry, a key foreign exchange earner, saw its output decline by 16 per cent to 251.5 million kilogrammes in 2022. The production has dropped because […]

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Jaffna Salt Water Scheme

Saturday, February 25th, 2023

Researched and written by Mr. Rama Somasunderam retired State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport (1990) and retired Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli (SLAS).    This was called the Jaffna Peninsula Lagoon Scheme which is located at Elephant Pass which is located 30 miles South East of Jaffna. The lagoon is 19,000 acres and […]

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Kelani Ganga Development scheme for flood control and to utilize the water potential for power generation and irrigation

Saturday, February 25th, 2023

Mr. Rama Somasunderam retired State Secretary of the Ministry of Transport (1990) and retired Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Mahaweli (SLAS).    The Kelini Ganga is one of the main rivers of Sri Lanka. It has its source in the Central Hills near Adam’s Speak and follows through the South Western Part of the country […]

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Sri Lanka-France agri cooperation can be developed – envoy

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana Minister of Plantation Industries Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has highlighted the importance of identifying new localities for rubber plantation as a solution to address shrinking cultivations. Addressing an event to launch a project funded by France to support small holder rubber planters, the Minister pointed out that rubber planters shifting to other crop cultivation […]

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Treasury issues circular on purchase of paddy

Tuesday, February 14th, 2023

Courtesy Hiru News The Treasury has released a circular on the government’s program for purchasing and distribution of paddy. The circular has been issued under the signature of the Treasury Secretary, K.M. Mahinda Siriwardena, on the direction of President Ranil Wickremesinghe, as the Minister of Finance, Economic Stabilization and National Policy. >The objective of the […]

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President assures mechanism to purchase paddy from farmers within a week

Sunday, February 12th, 2023

Courtesy Adaderana President Ranil Wickremesinghe has instructed the government officials to take the necessary measures to purchase a kilo of paddy at a guaranteed price of Rs. 100. The President further said that the Northern Province and Jaffna District will be developed as a province capable of supplying food to Sri Lanka, the President’s Media […]

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Destruction of priceless paddy lands

Wednesday, December 28th, 2022

Courtesy The Island An open letter to Director General of Agrarian Services I make reference to this subject, which is directly affecting the food security and safety, as well as the national security of our country in the future. Rice, being our citizens’ staple food over many centuries, plays an important role in our country’s […]

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Owners of unutilised land within Colombo City to be fined

Tuesday, December 27th, 2022

Courtesy The Daily Mirror The Colombo Municipal Council (CMC) is to charge a fine from the owners of unutilised land within the Colombo City. This was one of the major proposals of the CMC budget which was approved recently. As per the budget the expected revenue for the year 2023 through this exercise is Rs. […]

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