09. Progress of the Development Projects and Proposals Being Implemented by the Institutions

09.  Progress of the Development Projects and Proposals being implemented by the Institutions under the Ministry.

09.1.  Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture (DOA) has been established in 1912, over 100 years ago. At present, the DOA continues its services with the mission of development and dissemination of improved agricultural technology and providing related services to all stakeholders with emphasis on farmers to achieve an equitable and sustainable agricultural development to ensure food and nutritional security for the nation.

DOA consists of 15institutes with a regional network of sub institutes throughout the island to conduct research and development activities as well as to provide supportive services for farmers. It is one of the most important and largest government Departments in Sri Lanka with over 10,300 employees belonging to various cadre posts.

In order to achieve its objectives, DOA implements various projects and programmes throughout the island. Total Budgetary allocations received for this purpose in 2014 is Rs 4638.96 million. Allocation for main projects and expenditure incurred up to end of August is given below.

Table 1: Allocations for the year 2014 and expenditure up to 31st August 2014

Project / Capital / Recurrent
Allo. (Rs.Mn) / Expen. (Rs.Mn) / Allo. (Rs.Mn) / Expen. (Rs.Mn)
1. Administration & Establishment Services / 48.30 / 20.43 / 373.75 / 195.48
2.Agricultural Research & Development / 589.59 / 215.86 / 920.70 / 603.83
3.Extension & Training / 673.37 / 145.65 / 743.15 / 471.41
4.Seed Certification & Plant Protection / 680.30 / 459.23 / 609.80 / 409.13
Total for Department of Agriculture / 1991.56 / 844.17 / 2647.40 / 1679.85

Progress of DOA programmes during 2014

1. Agricultural Research & Development Programme.

Progress of agricultural research and development programmes with respect to rice, other field crops, horticultural and fruit crops conducted during 2014 are given below.

·  Research being continued to develop high yielding and drought tolerant rice varieties resistant to salinity and iron toxicity and controlling weed under wet conditions.

·  Paddy has been established in 10.5 ha in Low Country Wet Zone to produce basic seeds of different varieties.

·  Demonstration fields have been established in 10 government farms covering 10 districts to train farmers and project officers.

·  Germination ability of Bg 366 variety under low oxygen conditions has been improved to facilitate sowing of paddy under submerged conditions to control weeds and reduce usage of weedicides.

·  Varieties resistant to floods (Bg360, Bg 96-741) suitable for flood affected areas have been developed.

·  Varieties suitable for export market have been developed.

·  Fifty three number of new crosses were done and 6 promising F1 hybrids of chili were evaluated to produce hybrid varieties of chili.

·  Breeder seeds of chili varieties MICH 03 (2.6 kg) and MI 2 (6.1 kg) were produced.

·  Two varieties of maize (Ruwan & Bhadra) were established in the field to produce parental lines.

·  Infrastructure development is in progress at Regional Agricultural Research & Development Centre, Kilinochchi and a laboratory has been renovated in addition to construction of 04 rain shelters at Field Crop Research & Development Institute, MahaIlluppallama.

·  Fruit villages have been established at Hambantota, Ampara, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Matale, Kalutara, Moneragala, Matara, Gampaha, Ratnapura and Badulla.

·  Fruit biodiversity gardens are being established at Horana and Kundasale and maintenance of Mahinda Rajapakse Sports Complex at Homagama is being continued.

·  A handbook on Tomato was produced and a book on postharvest technology of tomato is being prepared.

·  Technologies on varietal improvement and pest & disease management have been introduced for vegetables, potato and root crops under the National Agricultural Research programme (NARP).

·  Technologies on organic farming and low cost mushroom cultivation have been introduced under the Asian Network for Sustainable Organic Farming Technology and KOPIA mushroom projects.

·  40,000 kg of seed potato have been produced and exported under the seed potato production programme.

·  Technical officers, farmers and general public have been trained on integrated pest management technologies.

2. Extension, Training and Communication Programme.

Some of the activities carried out by the Extension and Training Centre and the Information & Communication Centre during the year 2014 are given below.

·  A ‘Govi sathiya’ programme was held at Agricultural Research Station, Telijawila to promote agriculture.

·  41,220 copies of booklets, 10,950 copies of leaflets and 800 copies of posters have been printed at the Agriculture Publication Unit to popularize agricultural practices.

·  Construction of laboratory complex of the School of Agriculture, Karapincha has been completed and construction of the new building complex at the School of Agriculture, Kundasale is in progress under the Agriculture School Development programme.

·  A new building is being constructed for the Audio Visual Centre to strengthen communication of agricultural technologies.

3. Seed Certification and Plant Protection Programme.

3.1.Seed & Planting Material Development.

Production and distribution of quality seeds and planting material have been continued by the Seed & Planting Material Development Centre through relevant programmes. The accelerated seed farm development programme is also continued with an allocation of Rs 150 million.

·  A new sales centre is being constructed at Pelwehera and seed processing machines have been purchased for Paranthan, Murunkan, Polonnaruwa and Malwatta farms under the accelerated seed farm development programme.

·  Production of seed and planting materials of vegetables, paddy, other field crops and flower plants is being continued.

·  Big onion seed production is being continued in government farms at MahaIlluppallama, Bata atha, Middeniya and Polonnaruwa.

In addition, seeds of several local vegetable varieties including Mae, Golden cucumber, Winged bean, Okra, Thibbatu, Amaranthus, and Bitter gourd and planting materials of fruit crops including Pomegranate, Pineapple, Mandarine, Sweet orange, Grapes, Durian, Sour sop, Mangosteen, Rambutan, Pears and Mango have been produced by the Horticultural Research & Development Institute and the Fruit Research & Development Institute in order to increase availability of quality seeds and planting materials.

3.2.Seed Certification & Plant Protection.

Relevant programmes have been implemented under seed certification and plant protection to ensure quality of seeds supplied to farmers. Plant quarantine and plant protection services are being carried out in order to prevent pest and disease outbreaks.

·  Awareness through newspaper advertisements, short television programmes and training programmes have been conducted (No. of participants 2435) and 380 seed handlers have been registered under the Seed Act.

·  Awareness programmes have been conducted through electronic media to reduce impact of agrochemicals on human and the ecosystem

4. Other activities.

·  Research on agro climatology, GIS & remote sensing, water & water resource management and soil conservation & fertility management are being conducted by the Natural Resources Management Centre in addition to implementation of the Soil Conservation Act.

·  Ten socio economic research and 10 production and marketing research have been conducted by the Socio Economic & Planning Centre including 08 No. of project evaluations

·  Infrastructure of the Department is being developed

Programme for 2015

Following are some of the programmes planned for 2015.

1. Agricultural Research & Development Programme

Rice

·  Improving income of farmers through reducing cost of production and improving productivity of paddy fields.

·  Establishment of Low Country Wet Zone as a buffer zone for paddy cultivation in Sri Lanka.

·  Development of high yielding rice varieties through modification of structure of the plant.

·  Development of varieties tolerant to drought, floods, salinity and iron toxicity.

·  Introduction of new technologies for rice cultivation to reduce global warming.

·  Mechanization of rice cultivation and reduction of postharvest losses.

·  Development of varieties suitable for export market.

·  Popularization of alternative application of phosphate fertilizer to increase fertilizer use efficiency.

Other Field Crops

·  Development of high yielding improved varieties.

·  Identification of varieties resistant to stress conditions.

·  Development and dissemination of efficient agronomic practices to reduce the cost of production while increasing the productivity of land.

·  Dissemination of improved soil and water conservation methods and soil fertility management strategies to suit farmers’ conditions.

·  Development of integrated pest and weed management practices to reduce crop losses.

Horticulture

·  Development of improved fruit and vegetable varieties, vegetable hybrids and open pollinated vegetable varieties with desirable quality traits

·  Development of varieties specific for organic agriculture

·  Multiplication and purification of popular local traditional vegetable and fruit varieties and production of nucleus seeds

·  Conducting basic and strategic research to develop climate smart vegetable varieties

·  Introduction of root and tuber crops for abiotic stresses and provision of sufficient nucleus planting materials

·  Development and dissemination of novel cultivation techniques to improve quality and productivity of floricultural crops for middle level growers

·  Development and dissemination of sustainable pest and diseases management techniques for vegetable crops.

·  Development of smart nutrient management techniques (IPNS, Soil and plant test based fertilizer recommendations) to minimize environmental contaminations

·  Selection and introduction of potato cultivars for non-traditional areas and dissemination of techniques for mass production of seed potato.

·  Introduction of new mushroom types for commercial cultivation and low cost cultivation techniques for cottage level industry.

·  Development of technological package to reduce post harvest losses of vegetables and techniques to produce processed food without using chemical preservatives.

·  Implementation of island- wide fruit fly/ Melon fly control programme to ensure the quality and productivity of fruits and vegetable for local consumption and export market.

2. Extension & Training Programme.

·  Enhancement of farmer involvement in protected agriculture for continuous crop production even under unfavourable weather conditions.

·  Establishment of farmer controlled market to facilitate direct supply to the consumers without intervention of middlemen.

·  Enhancement of women entrepreneurship through promotion of local food.

·  Training and capacity building to enhance activities related to agriculture.

·  Creating awareness on new agricultural technologies and popularization of agriculture through printed and electronic media.

3. Seed and Planting Material Production,Certification and Protection Programme.

·  Increasing production and supply of quality seeds and planting material

·  Implementation of Seed Act through strengthening the quality control system of seeds and creating awareness through media and training programmes

·  Conservation & management of plant genetic resources

·  Implementation of relevant regulations to facilitate safe import & export of plants & plant products

1.  Other Programme.

·  Conducting research on conservation of soil.

·  Maintenance of agro-meteorological observation network and database.

·  Conducting cost of cultivation studies and crop enterprise budgets for major food crops.

·  Development of web based crop forecasting system.

·  Conducting research on policies related to agriculture.

·  Development of infrastructure of the Department of Agriculture.

09.2.  Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka.

Introduction.

The main task assigned to the National Agricultural Diversification and Settlement Authority (NADSA) established in 1978 under State Agricultural Corporation Act NO.11 of 1978 was to conserve the entire equilibrium of the Central hills and to protect the community living in the areas.

The plantations were introduced in place of the forests with vegetations in the upcountry under the foreign invasions. These have become barren and marginal lands with the end of the colonial era.

The soil erosions in these lands have become an environmental problem as it has directly and indirectly affected the environment. Loss of fertility in the soil, depositing soil in the rivers and in the waterways were , drying up of the water sources ,loss of drinking water and reducing the fertility of productivity of the lands are some of the reasons for it.

The Authority has taken steps to solve these environmental problems by conserving and developing the lands in the area and actions have been taken to extend the services of the Authority after studying the functions and the success of the NADSA in 1990 which was functioning for nearly 12 years from its inception.

Accordingly the official name NADSA was amended by the extra ordinary Gazette notification No: 687/15 dated 07.11.1991 and assigned the name Greenery Settlement Development Authority of Sri Lanka (Hadabima Authority of Sri Lanka) and extended its area to carry out its functions. Funds were provided for this purpose by the Food and Agriculture Organization. Although this aid programme was implemented until 1994, and thereafter the funds were received from the Treasury after considering the social, economic and environmental importance in the programmes introduced by the Authority.

The programmes of the Authority are implemented with the funds received up to date and the activities of the development programmes will be decided on the allocations.

Arrangements have been made to use the main development progammes namely the basic development plan, soil conservation, and water shed management, home gardening and diversification of crops, “Sisunena Pavura” the environmental programme based on schools, rural community nutritional programme, “tharuna aruna” entrepreneur development programme in the development programme which are carried out by obtaining the community participation in the maximum level.

It is targeted to develop 4000 hectares with the participation of 11500 farmer families residing in 40 D.S. divisions which have an environmental importance in Kandy, Matale, Nuwaraeliya, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kalutara and Matara districts by using Rs.70.0 million allocated by the Treasury in 2014.

The financial and the physical progress of each development project achieved as at 31st August 2014 is given below.

1. Basic Development Plan.

1.1 Community participatory development plan.

Rural development plan is being prepared by targeting to obtain the participation of the rural community and the rural leadership in the maximum level for the development programmes of the Hadabima Authority. The existing rural, physical and human resources are identified at this stage and the annual development time frame too is prepared according to the activities of the Authority by giving priority for the problems which have to be solved early. As such 76 programmes were completed out of the 80 pogrammes targeted for 2014. Rs.0.37 million was spent for this purpose.

1.2 Leadership training programme.

The youth with abilities were identified at the community level when the above community participatory development programme is implemented at the first stage in the village level and a formal training is being given to them in agricultural development, leadership qualities and social activities and thereafter action has been taken to employ them as mediators who are implementing the development programmes of the Authority in the village. Accordingly 360 community pilots were trained out of 400 proposed for it and it was able to employ them in the field activities. Rs.0.8 million was spent for this purpose.