Gannoruwa introduces new tomato variety

(October 23, 2010) Horticultural Crop Research and Development Institute, Gannoruwa, Sri Lanka announced the introduction of new tomato variety suitable for the island. The new tomato variety was introduced under project thrust Tomato varietal development via mutation breeding, according to the website of the institute. Senior Research Officer Ranjani Peiris said to media that the new tomato variety named as ‘Lanka Cherry’ is smaller in size and the weight of a fruit is around eight grams. She said that one hectare of the cultivation of Lanka Cherry would give as much as 17 tons crop. The harvest can be kept at normal temperature without...

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Posted in Gannoruwa , Lanka Cherry , tomato

Anomalies in distribution of subsidized fertilizer by government of Sri Lanka

(October 20, 2010) Movement for National Land and Agricultural Reforms (MONLAR) of Sri Lanka urges the government to rectify the administrative errors of distribution of fertilizer to the rice farmers under the government subsidy. The government spends Rs. 28 billion per annum for the fertilizer subsidy of the rice farmers to supply fertilizer at 4% of the actual market price. However, the farmers point out that some of the farmer organizations that are responsible of distribution of fertilizer engage malpractices. Farmers complain that the farmer organizations add high transport costs to the 50 kilogram fertilizer bag and sell them well...

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Posted in farmer organizations , fertilizer subsidy

It’s time to allow the hungry to feed themselves and the rest of the World

(October 17, 2010) The world is commemorating the WFD ( Oct.16 ) this year in a state where the food situation in the world is precarious . The lessons we have to learn from the experiences in trying to feed the world are very important. This is not because of the successes but because of the failures. The world leaders have almost come to a situation in which they need to admit that their efforts so far in trying to solve world’s hunger has failed and they are not in a position to find effective solutions. In the year 2000, the world leaders met and decided to set up the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs), when they promised that they would...

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Posted in food security , hunger , Millennium Development Goals , Sri Lanka

Soya farmers in trouble of selling their harvest in Sri Lanka

(October 03, 2010) As the media reported the woes of Sri Lankan soya farmers who are in difficulty of selling their bounty harvest, the government has decided to ban import of soya beans. The company under the Ministry of Health that produces nutrient ‘Thriposha’ supplied free of charge to pregnant and breast feeding mothers of the country is to purchase the harvest of the farmers through the regional farmer companies. The farmer companies are to purchase soya at Rs. 95 per kilo from farmer companies while the companies buy them at Rs. 85 per kilo. The Corporative Wholesale Establishment stores at Welisala have been given to the Thriposha...

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Posted in Ministry of Health , soya , Thriposha