Food stocks available only until end February: Dr. Wijekoon

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Department of Agriculture, its Director General Dr. Rohan Wijekoon, said the country was facing a critical period due to the prevailing drought conditions. He said around four-hundred-thousand hectares of land needed to be brought under paddy cultivation to meet the needs of the country during the current season.

Because of the prevalent drought he said, nearly 50% of paddy lands remained uncultivated. Another fallout of the adverse weather condition was that waters in the tanks -which provide water during the cultivation season- had dwindled down to 20% of capacity.

Dr.Wijekoon warned the country had stocks which would last until the end of February. To meet this shortfall, he stressed, at least eight-hundred-thousand acres of land needed to to brought under short-term paddy cultivation. This would enable the country to meet basic needs until June this year he added.

Speaking at a seminar on "Conservation and Utilization of Local Varieties and Traditional Knowledge Associated with Genetic Resources and Agriculture," Dr Wijekoon warned the situation was grave.

He called on people to abstain from picking young jak (polos) and suggested allowing the fruit to mature. This particular fruit he said, could be used as an alternate food source in times of food shortage.

The problem would reach a critical position during the Yala season and to meet this situation, he stressed the importance of cultivating cash crops in home gardens.

Dr. Wijekoon said the Agriculture Department was promoting two projects -promotion of biodiversity and conservation of local varieties of paddy.

He said these were among the topics which would be discussed at the seminar as a means of meeting the anticipated shortages.

He emphasised all sections of the population -farmers and the general public- needed to co- operate and implement the conclusions arrived at, in an effort to overcome the situation created by the drought.