HELPLESS STATE AUTHORITIES FAIL TO CONTROL PADDY...

“Among the unconditionally imported rice was Basmati, and through this deal importers earned large profits. Who did the government enrich through this decision? Is this the policy of the government? Although the Ministry of Agriculture should play a key role in these decisions, its silence and passive stance is suspicious and suggests internal issues within the government that are beyond control,” said Gunaratne.

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Ninety (90) countries cultivate paddy and work to ensure food security within their borders. 700 million metric tons of paddy are produced annually, with India being the largest producer. Even highly populated countries such as India, China and Japan meet their own rice requirements. Some paddy varieties in these countries yield as much as 8-9 metric tons per hectare. There are also rice varieties that can be harvested three times a year from the same paddy field. In Sri Lanka, it is commendable that experts at the Department of Agriculture have achieved yields of 5 to 5.5 metric tons per hectare. This level of production is sufficient to make the country self-sufficient in rice. However, due to poor planning by the government and the Ministry of Agriculture, the country has failed to fully benefit from this potential, Gunaratne pointed out.