Food Production and Agricultural Development 2015.11.06
Circular No. 01/2015
Secretaries to Ministers Chief Provincial Secretaries All District Secretaries / GAS Secretaries, Provincial Ministers of Agriculture Heads of Departments Divisional Secretaries
Food Production National Programme 2016 – 2018 Implementation of Food Crop Production and Agricultural Development Plan
1. Background
The 03 year food production National Programme was formulated under the institutions of H.E. the President with the objective of achieving multi target such as ensuring food security, increasing the sustainable sources of income of the farmer community, environmental conservation, sustainable conversation of natural resources and increasing the competitiveness of the international market.
Accordingly, Food Crop Production and Agricultural Development Plan is being implemented under the leadership of the Hon - Minister of Agriculture. This Development Plan will be helpful towards establishing more productive agriculture with suitable crop cultivation based an agro - ecological zones while maintaining a proper co - ordination among all parties involved in crop cultivation.
At the outset discussions were conducted with main stake holders in the field of agriculture including Ministers, Departments, Corporations, Statutory Bodies following the main subject areas, strategies and programmes were well identified. Subsequent to the comprehensive analysis of all aspects of the initiatives the Food Production National Programme cum Agricultural Development Programme was formulated.
1.1. Objectives of the Food Crop Production and Agricultural Development Plan
Make the country self - sufficient in indigenous food crop productions whereby saving a large amount of foreign exchange. Minimize the use of chemical fertilizer and pesticide and adopt environment friendly agricultural practices in food crop production. Ensuring food security through proper management of supplementary food stocks. Introduce and implementation of crop production programme based an agri ecological zones. Increasing productivity of food production by adopting suitable technologies in crop production process. Establish proper co - ordination among all institutions involved in the local food production and integration of this programme with the day - to - day life of school community, civil organizations and the general public. To provide quality inputs to food producers and introduce suitable marketing methodology for their food produces.
1.2. Main components of Food Crop Production and Agricultural Development Plan. This Development Plan consists of 2 main components.
I. Increasing both production productivity of indigenous food crops.
Target under this component is to increase both production and productivity of paddy, supplementary food crops such as green gram, maize, ground nuts, soya bean, big onion, chili, potato, ginger, vegetable and fruit. Under this component it is also expected to increase house - hold food production through promotion of home - gardening.
II. Agricultural Development
Under this component, it has been planned to take remedial measures to solve main problems faced by the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. They include input management, food security, natural resources management, adaption to climatic changes, research and technological development, marketing, state and private sector partnership, empowerment of farmers, promoting youth and women’s participation in agriculture, knowledge management, traditional knowledge and practices, consumer health and satisfaction, legal and regulatory framework, institutional, co ordination and the development irrigation infrastructure facilities.
2. National, Provincial, District and Divisional Level Crop Production Targets
In the preparation of Food Crop Production National Plan, national targets are to be achieved on paddy, supplementary food crops (Chili, soya bean, maize, green gram, ground nuts, cowpea, gingerly, black gram, finger millet, potato, big onion, red onion), vegetable and fruits. Based on those national production targets district and divisional level targets have been identified. Accordingly, production targets on provincial district and divisional level were assessed in consideration of cultivation extent of each crop within the respective area. This assessment of targets were made by panel of experts selected from provincial, inter provincial, Mahaweli systems, agrarian services and irrigation fields with the mediation of the Department of Agriculture. Refer Annexure 01 for those targets.
3. Implementing Mechanism
This programme is to be implemented jointly by provincial councils, Mahaweli Authority, Department of Agriculture and the Department of Agrarian Development. The District Secretary and the Divisional Secretary are responsible for administrative Co - ordination and overall supervision of the programme at district and divisional level as set out in the Annexure.
A Committee chaired by the District Secretary should be appointed ensuring the representation of all parties concerned to ensure the success of the programme at district level with particular attention on crop diversification and modernization. Constitutions of the Committee are as follows;
Chairman - District Secretary Secretary - District Director of Agriculture Members - State and private sector officials, farmers and representative of non- governmental organizations. This Committee is responsible for implementing the programme at district level, concentrating on the achievement of targets.
With regard to Divisional level implementation of the programme a monitoring Committee headed by the respective Divisional Secretary should be appointed, constitution of which are as follows;
Chairmen - Divisional Secretary Secretary - Director (Planning) Members - State and Private Sector, Officials, farmers and representatives from NGOs This Committee is responsible for implementing the programme at divisional level with particular attention of environmental protection and crop diversification.
1. Regulation, Supervision and Progress Maintaining
Provincial Level
Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Provincial Ministers of Agriculture, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Secretaries of Provincial Ministries (Agriculture) will monitor the programme, progress of which should be discussed once in 03 months with the participation of officers responsible for implementing the programme. The national and Provincial Level progress will frequently be forwarded for supervision by H.E. the president.
District Level
Progress review and follow up of the programme should be made by the District Monitoring Committee which is responsible for finding solutions to problems arising out in the implementation of the programme, monthly progress of which should be forwarded to the Ministry of Agriculture. Any special issues arising shall be discussed at the District Development Committee, District Agricultural Committee and District Co - ordination Committee.
Divisional Level
Divisional Monitoring Committee is responsible for progress review and follow up activities. The progress at divisional level should be brought to the notice of the District Monitoring Committee while reporting monthly progress to the District Secretary. Any special issues arising in the implementation of the programme should be discussed Divisional Development Committee, Divisional Agriculture Committee and Divisional Co - coordinating Committee.
Your co-operation towards the successful implementation of this national programme is highly appreciated.
B. Wijayaratne Secretary Ministry of Agriculture