RECOMMENDATIONS FOR URGENT ACTION FROM THE AGRIPRENEURIAL COMMUNITY

Preamble

There are fixed dire warnings of impending meals shortages citing many causes and blames on previous actions. Whereas it’s helpful and clever to be forewarned, the warnings alone is not going to avert the attainable shortages.  What’s required is for these ready and keen to have interaction in cultivation and different related actions, as greatest as attainable utilizing accessible and deployable sources,  as a substitute of simply lamenting and demanding inputs that will by no means come.

On this regard, we want to emphasize and develop on the short-term options that we proposed in our Press Launch dated 13/04/2022 and in addition introduced to the related officers of the state.

Additionally it is necessary to notice that the relevance and the necessity to additionally strategize and implement the long-term options, spelled out therein nonetheless stay legitimate. Subsequently along with the short-term actions, the creation of the pathway for the belief of the long-term objectives, is subsequently important, with due care to make sure that the short-term selections and actions on no account hinder that pathway.

The availability of chemical fertilizers and pesticides to satisfy even the unique really useful ranges of utilization is now unlikely, each because of the prices, scarcity of {Dollars}, and the diminished provides on the earth market. The one optimistic sign is the provide of 65,000 tons of Urea from India.  As such it’s time to put aside the various arguments in opposition to the unique ban and take into account the optimum utilization of those restricted provides, which hopefully might be accessible in time for the present Yala season.

On this context, we want to spotlight two inescapable points.

1. There are reviews from the Division of Agriculture, on analysis performed over a few years, {that a} appropriate mixture of chemical and natural fertilizers would give rise to an enhanced yield of over 20% in contrast with the yield from using solely chemical fertilizer. This analysis is predicated on soil sorts and is crop-based. Therefore the DOA ought to develop a set of suggestions and make them instantly accessible to the agriculture sector. Thus the restricted portions of chemical fertilizer which can be accessible needs to be issued solely to those that observe this system.
2. Because the unique ban on chemical fertilizer got here into impact, many farmers and entrepreneurs opted to, each manufacture and make the most of none chemical pure fertilizers. Many such successes have been reported within the media. Pressing motion is required by the Dept of Agriculture to confirm these claims and assist and develop these practices broadly because the official suggestion if confirmed correct and legitimate.  Contemplating the urgency of the scenario and the attainable most optimistic influence, these should be finished instantly if not already finished.
3. The introduction and proliferation of using chemical fertilizers and pesticides is a traditionally current occasion. Whereas these could have made a optimistic influence, the current market upheavals and the long-term unfavourable impacts of near-total dependence on exterior sources impacting the nationwide meals safety should be acknowledged. Subsequently, it’s clever to embrace this chance given to implement options that everybody agrees are a greater strategy if carried out intelligently.  The current shortages of each fertilizer and the overseas trade push Sri Lanka to provide you with a a lot quicker change over to the options, even accepting the much-talked-about drop in yield.  Different technique of masking the drop should be adopted like cultivating deserted and underutilized and unused arable lands and lowering post-harvest losses.

URGENT SHORT TERM ACTIONS RECOMMENDED

• Entry to fertilizer and options

1. It’s pressing to make sure that no matter pure or natural fertilizers are produced conform to acceptable requirements, so that they carry out as claimed. The fertilizer secretariat alone could not be capable to do that as a nationwide train, and subsequently appropriate distributed state businesses should be enrolled to carry out this operate. Such certification may very well be made obligatory on the market to the general public.
2. There are particular intensive agricultural enterprises, together with protected agriculture, that are designed for using specialised chemical fertilizers and pesticides. They need to be permitted to make use of part of their overseas trade earnings to import such specialty fertilizers. A system must be set in place in order that this part collectively or through the registered importers might make the most of this facility, if not already in place. The Nationwide Fertilizer Secretariat ought to grant momentary approvals to these direct customers or others with overseas trade balances to import such fertilizers whereas adhering to the processes laid down by the Secretariat

• Market and Financial Measures

1. The unstructured and politically motivated system of subsidies has been a bane of the nation not restricted to Agriculture. Therefore this observe shouldn’t be reintroduced as presently being mentioned and reported within the media, providing false hopes to the farmers and discouraging them from commencing cultivations utilizing accessible sources.  Any sector or particular person believing and insisting on using chemical fertilizer needs to be able to pay the correct market value.   It might be morally fallacious to supply such subsidies, that are funded by the overall treasury, and the burden of which can also be shared by those that have opted to search out methods and technique of turning into self-sufficient, not relying on imports.
2. The acquisition value of main meals commodities corresponding to paddy, corn, and pulses should mirror the true price of manufacturing with none subsidies. Subsequently, those that have had the braveness to go for inexpensive options could be extra inspired.
3.  Necessary reporting of paddy and rice shares held by the working oligarchy of the massive rice millers which has manipulated the market with impunity and the system of value management in whole disarray and the buyer safety businesses being sidelined.  Non-compliance with such laws is to be strictly handled as a deterrent.

• Social Points and Propaganda

1. The important security internet that needs to be in place for the section of the society, extremely deserving assist can’t be served by normal subsidies. Different means as a correctly managed and monitored Samurdhi system, as soon as extra not politically manipulated, needs to be utilized for this.  This doesn’t require any overseas trade.
2. An pressing program is required to discourage the current attitudes of a significant proportion of the inhabitants of anticipating handouts and all method of providers to be given by the state. The state ought to solely be a facilitator and enabler to offer honest entry to vital inputs and providers. All media, private and non-private needs to be enrolled to implement this paradigm shift, which might make all of us search for alternatives as a substitute of handouts which in actuality, proceed to maintain Sri Lanka a beggar nation.
3. The time accessible to avert any attainable meals shortages, by persevering with the previous practices is quick operating out. As such the encouragement of residence gardening which has confirmed its worth previously should be extremely inspired. What is required is greater than quick access to seeds and planting materials.  The promotional propaganda which isn’t but seen adequately wants main enhancement  and needs to be virtually demonstrated by those that preach

• Mitigatory Actions to satisfy the upcoming shortfall

1. The persevering with lament in opposition to the ban on chemical fertilizer has been the dire prediction of the lack of harvest yield. Whereas this can be true, the extent of such loss is but to be printed formally. It might be helpful to publicize such official statistics early to have the ability to attain agency selections on the diploma of the issue and strategize any corrective actions
2. It’s important to acknowledge that along with feeding the nation, non-traditional agriculture too has an ideal potential to be a significant earner of overseas trade, notably by means of value-added merchandise to satisfy the requirements of the world markets.  Whereas the considerable contribution of this effort could also be realized within the medium time period, rapid steps are wanted to acknowledge and encourage and iron out any procedural and coverage obstacles.  Rapid identification of excessive potential high-value addition crops and an motion plan already really useful by the Sri Lanka Agripreneurs’ Discussion board (SLAF) should be instantly carried out. SLAF has already commenced work through a multi-stakeholder staff to develop the Jak Fruit Worth Chain.
3. Whereas the attainable discount of yield as a result of a scarcity of chemical fertilizer is mentioned at size, different components which have the identical influence corresponding to lack of adherence to GAP, post-harvest losses, and infrequently publicized wastes as a result of lack of selling alternatives, haven’t acquired any important consideration. Even partial alleviation of those pointless losses might be the technique of offsetting the discount of the anticipated lack of yield. Some measures which might be carried out within the quick time period are proposed
   1. Reintroduction of the correct packaging methods for the transport of vegatables and fruits, which was tried and deserted
   2. Completion of the Chilly Retailer Complicated at Dambulla and instituting a dependable administration construction with the participation of stakeholder farmers and chosen personal firms with the requisite operational and administration experience on such amenities, with the required state involvement for regulation.
   3. Using the storage amenities on the places such because the Veyangoda Complicated the place extra sturdy merchandise might be saved for longer durations of time thus regulating the volatility of the markets and lowering post-harvest losses.

• A typical holistic Strategy is required for achievement

With the potential of the meals safety being severely impacted, to a degree hitherto unprecedented,  the steps wanted to even partially alleviate such severity would naturally require drastic and pressing actions. The implementation of the above actions is subsequently pressing and crucial. Whereas the participation and contribution of a large spectrum of stakeholders each within the State Sector and Personal sector and particular person farmers are wanted, The Sri Lanka Agripreneurs Discussion board is dedicated to offering its full assist and help in attaining this goal.