Wimal warns food security at risk, calls for changing agriculture policy

… asks govt. to follow Modi, reverse strategy

By Shamindra Ferdinando

National Freedom Front (NFF) leader Wimal Weerawansa has warned the government of dire consequences unless its decision to do away with fertiliser and agro-chemicals is reversed.

Addressing the media following an event at Battarmulla over the weekend, the Industries Minister emphasised that the government shouldn’t be ashamed to reverse the decision.

Reiterating his support for carbonic agriculture, Minister Weerawansa emphasised whatever the circumstances, agriculture for commercial purposes couldn’t be allowed to be ruined and the community driven away from agriculture. Weerawansa is the first Cabinet Minister to criticize the government’s fertiliser and agro-chemical policy since the sacking of Agriculture Secretary Prof. Udith Jayasinghe, in late Dec 2021 immediately after he warned of massive food shortage as a result of crop failure.

The Minister said that if the government took remedial measures the situation could be stabilized within the remaining three years and aspirations of the masses fulfilled. However, the government shouldn’t subject commercial agriculture to unnecessary risks, the Colombo District lawmaker said. The former JVPer warned food security would be threatened if commercial agriculture collapsed as a result of wrong decisions taken by the government.

The Minister said that the issues surrounding the use of fertilizer and agro-chemicals couldn’t be settled at the expense of commercial agriculture.

Pointing out how Indian Premier Narendra Modi dropped two Bills following strong protests from the farming community, the outspoken Minister said that in the face of some challenges the governments had no option but to retreat. The government shouldn’t be shy to take a step backwards, MP Weerawansa said strongly advising the top leadership to change its disastrous policy without further delay.

Referring to the allocation of Rs 40 bn to pay compensation to farmers affected by the government decision, Minister Weerawansa pointed out how they had to spend much more than what was spent on the fertiliser subsidy. The Minister said that the compensation package was evidence of the enormity of the wrong decision taken by the government.

Warning that the country’s food security is at risk, the NFF leader said that the government should be mindful of its decisions.