‘Govt.’s failure to meet requirement has led to the smuggling of deadly substances from India’

By Shamindra Ferdinando

Samagi Jana Balavegaya (SJB) lawmaker Rohini Kaviratne says the government is yet to explain how it intends to ensure sufficient supply of agro-chemicals for the Maha season.

Pointing out that the Maha season is three weeks away; Matale District MP Kaviratne insists the government still seems uncertain about a proper distribution scheme. The Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP) continues to cause uncertainty among the farmer community, thereby undermining the vital occupation that feeds the country, the former UNPer says.

Asked whether SJB had genuinely intervened on behalf of the farming community, MP Kaviratne said that she recently raised the entire gamut of issues with Agriculture Ministry Secretary Senior Professor Uditha K. Jayasinghe.

How could land be prepared without agro-chemicals, MP Kaviratne asked, urging the Agriculture Ministry to respond to farmers’ concerns, instead of simply following the government agenda.

Due to the failure on the part of the government to provide sufficient supply of agro-chemicals, questionable stocks were being smuggled in from India in fishing trawlers to the Eastern Province, Mannar, as well as the South, the MP alleged in her letter to the Agriculture Ministry Secretary.

Lawmaker Kaviratne pointed out that Jayasinghe who headed the Agriculture Faculty, Wayamba University couldn’t be unaware of the pivotal requirement for both fertiliser and agro-chemicals for commercial cultivation.

Jayasinghe succeeded Senior Administrative Officer Rohana Pushpakumara in June this year. The Agriculture Minister brought in Pushpakumara after the resignation of Maj. Gen. Sudantha Perera, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s first choice as Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture.

Lawmaker Kaviratne maintained that the Agriculture Ministry, too, was in turmoil as were almost all other ministries. “As a result, key sectors are in chaos. Agriculture is no exception. The way the decision-makers had handled the agriculture sector is evidence that the SLPP is bent on pursuing its own agenda even at the expense of the community,” she claimed.

Commenting on a Cabinet paper submitted by the Agriculture Ministry recently, MP Kaviratne alleged that an attempt was being made to create a monopoly in the lucrative agro-chemical import business. The lawmaker questioned the rationale in handing over a staggering 87 percent of the import share to one company against the backdrop of the crisis caused by pursuing a similar strategy in respect of sugar trade.

The SJB spokesperson pointed out how the government restricted the number of sugar importers. At that time, the SLPP won the election, altogether there had been 67 sugar importers, MP Kaviratne said. Subsequently, the number of sugar importers had been brought down to 12 and duty on kilo of imported sugar slashed from Rs 50 to 25 cents, at the expense of the Treasury, paving the way for those with political connections to hoard massive stocks of imported sugar after paying a pittance as tax, the MP said.

Lawmaker Kaviratne said that since Sri Lanka opened up her economy in 1977 during the JRJ presidency, there hadn’t been previous attempts to create a monopoly in agro-chemical imports. The government had now paved the way for smuggling of agro-chemicals from India and the formation of a black market trade, the MP alleged, claiming that those in power had dealt a deadly blow to agriculture.

Kaviratne asked whether the SLPP was pursuing an agenda meant to destroy agriculture.

Responding to another query, MP Kaviratne said that the resignation of two Secretaries to the Agriculture Ministry, too, couldn’t be ignored. Perhaps, Maj. Gen. Perera and senior administrative officer Pushpakumara hadn’t been able to follow unpalatable political directives hence the decision to quit, MP Kaviratne said.

She charged that while pretending the government had initiated a major drive to promote organic farming in fact the country was now opened up to deadly agro-chemicals.

The MP alleged that the SLPP had jeopardised the livelihood of about 30 percent of the population dependent on agriculture and was following an unexplained strategy inimical to the overall well being of the country.

Referring to the recent media coverage of countrywide fertiliser shortage, MP Kaviratne claimed that the government wanted to discourage reportage of the issue. Some of those protesting against fertiliser shortage had been harassed while some sections of the media had been warned of punitive measures, she claimed.

The proposed move to make available agro-chemicals through Govijana Seva centres would cause serious inconvenience to the farming community, she asserted.