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
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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 nongovernmental 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