Api Wawamu Rata Nangamu

Introduction

World food production is insufficient to meet the increasing food demand for world population. It is an alarming crisis of world food scarcity. This is mainly because of the reduction in world food production due to population growth, higher production cost, drastic climatic change and scarcity of suitable land for crop cultivation. In addition, day to day increase in fuel price also affects the crop cultivation, animal husbandry and fishery products including all agricultural products directly or indirectly.

It is reported that, presently people persuade to use maize as well as coarse grains as a bio fuel as an alternative solution for energy crisis. It is important to mention that this fact directly causes scarcity of above grains and ultimately leads to price increase. For instance, use of maize for bio fuel production will increase the price of maize in world market which ultimately leads to the price of animal feed as well as animal products. As an alternative, people can pay attention to use other grains to produce animal feeds. It also causes the reduction of supply and increases the price of other grains as well. This was reported in our country as well in recent past.

It is reported that the large rice producing countries like India and Vietnam has limited their rice production in the past few years. And, reduction of rice production in Philippine, Indonesia also resulted to increase the price of rice. Thus, we can not be assumed reduction of price of the food items in near future. How ever price of the wheat and rice already increased in world market. It is about US $ 550 per one ton of rice. To overcome this kind of crisis situation, the best alternative is to promote production of local food materials. Specially, production of local demand of rice, other grains, leguminous crops, fruits, vegetables and potatoes will lead to the food security of the local people.

Therefore, the programme known as “Api wawamu rata nagamu 2007-2010” has been introduced to our country to promote local food production in Sri Lanka. Thereby, it can utilize the individual dedication and contribution of all the people in our country to achieve this tremendous task of food security. Again, this programme will effectively use of almost all the land which is suitable for crop production.

The basic objective of this programme is to achieve self sufficiency of rice, other field crops, as well as fruits and vegetables. Ministry of Agriculture and Agrarian Services and Department of Agriculture have immense duty to accomplish these objectives. They have planned to launch special activities to achieve this target and hoping to get other contribution of ministries for this important national service.