RPCs to cultivate state lands to modernise agriculture

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has queried from Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) on obtaining leases offered on uncultivated state lands as part of the larger plan to modernise agriculture and ensure food security for Sri Lankans.

At a meeting held with the RPCs this plan had been mooted to which the companies have readily agreed to engage in cultivating lands in line with state policy towards the modernisation of agriculture in Sri Lanka by cultivating vast tracts of lands to provide food security.

Peradeniya University Senior Prof. Buddhi Marambe told the Business Times that the government has plans to engage in public private partnerships to improve productivity by opening up to large scale cultivation of state lands to ensure food security. This is being planned out by the Agricultural Modernisation Secretariat established at the Presidential Secretariat that is scheduled to hold a meeting in this respect.

The government is attempting to ensure that more entrepreneurial farming is carried out adopting modernisation of agricultural sector, he said.

He explained that these plans are still under discussion and that cash crops other than paddy will be considered for large scale cultivation where there is a need for high investment and which entails also a high return on investment.

North Western Province Land Commissioner R.M. N. Premasiri told the Business Times that state lands are made available for various purposes and that these are being leased out for a 30 year period with extents of over 50 acres granted to companies and less than 50 acres to individuals.

Already the government has commenced plans to improve agriculture production by engaging about 14,000 farm households that will benefit from the Agriculture Modernisation Project that will enhance the use of improved technologies for smallholders and engaging farmers to organize and become entrepreneurs.

The Secretariat will address issues arising in this programme and help formulate a policy framework for modernizing the agriculture sector.

Involvement of private sector academics, researchers, experienced officials, and the youth communities will be engaged in implementing these projects along with the public sector officials.