The Agriculture Ministry has planned to suspend the importation of rice until December of this year, noting that there is a risk of farmers not getting a sufficient price for paddy due to the excessive importation of rice and the availability of sufficient stocks of rice in the country. According to Ministry officials, such a ban is being contemplated due to the possibility of certain rice mill owners buying paddy from farmers at cheaper prices due to the further importation of rice.
However, as The Morning reported on Friday (5), rice producers’ associations have alleged that the Ministry does not have any formal data with regard to the loss of the paddy harvest in the last Maha season due to the shortage of fertiliser and due to the amount of rice that has been imported so far. According to the United Rice Producers’ Association, the importation of rice should be suspended only after obtaining the relevant data, and failure to do so may cause an abnormal hike in rice prices.
The Association’s sentiments are rational – regardless of the sector they apply to, decisions should be based on proven data and also the experiences and opinions of industry stakeholders. Although whether the Ministry took into account such factors when it took the initiative to consider suspending rice imports remains unknown, it is crucial that the Government and the authorities do not rely on hearsay or personal opinions over science and experience – the agriculture industry is in its current predicament due to this very reason.
However, it was also reported that the Cabinet of Ministers has directed the appointment of a committee to look into the possibility of suspending rice imports until the end of the year, and this committee would reportedly include Secretaries to the Agriculture and Trade Ministries, and a group of officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury. Whether stakeholders will also be included in this committee, or whether it will consult stakeholders later, remains unknown, but one thing is certain – if Sri Lanka relies solely on high-ranking officials when making such key decisions, the fallout would be similar to the infamous organic fertiliser plan.
A year ago, Sri Lanka took a decision which many alleged was not based on facts – i.e. official, scientific data and anecdotal data – or the opinions of farmers or stakeholders who work with farmers at the grassroots level. That is the former Government’s organic fertiliser plan, which continues to affect farmers and the general public to this day. In fact, that attractive but short-sighted and impractical decision was one of the major reasons behind the decreased paddy yield the country saw during the past year, and industry experts say that the Government’s organic plan is a good lesson about the consequences of unscientific decisions.
When it comes to the results of the organic plan, the most important question we must ask is, who is paying for the Government’s foolishness? The answer is, it is not those who made the decision, but the general public who keep paying taxes despite the collapsing economy and inferior living conditions.
Such a fate should not befall the general public again; they are already affected by the economic crisis to the extent they can barely manage to survive. The Government and the relevant authorities do not have to make any extra effort, but must do what any decision-maker is supposed to – take logical decisions based on the available data and evidence, and in consultation with industry stakeholders and experts. As a matter of fact, the failed organic plan highlighted to the country how industry experts and stakeholders are capable of making more judicious decisions and more accurate forecasts than the politicians in charge of the agriculture sector could.
This is certainly not the time to play with people’s lives and the country’s economy, and when it comes to essential goods such as food, the Government must be extremely cautious and responsible. Sri Lanka does not have the funds to correct the missteps of politicians or authorities.
Giving ‘rice’ to a shortage?
08 Aug 2022
Giving ‘rice’ to a shortage?
08 Aug 2022
The Agriculture Ministry has planned to suspend the importation of rice until December of this year, noting that there is a risk of farmers not getting a sufficient price for paddy due to the excessive importation of rice and the availability of sufficient stocks of rice in the country. According to Ministry officials, such a ban is being contemplated due to the possibility of certain rice mill owners buying paddy from farmers at cheaper prices due to the further importation of rice.
However, as The Morning reported on Friday (5), rice producers’ associations have alleged that the Ministry does not have any formal data with regard to the loss of the paddy harvest in the last Maha season due to the shortage of fertiliser and due to the amount of rice that has been imported so far. According to the United Rice Producers’ Association, the importation of rice should be suspended only after obtaining the relevant data, and failure to do so may cause an abnormal hike in rice prices.
The Association’s sentiments are rational – regardless of the sector they apply to, decisions should be based on proven data and also the experiences and opinions of industry stakeholders. Although whether the Ministry took into account such factors when it took the initiative to consider suspending rice imports remains unknown, it is crucial that the Government and the authorities do not rely on hearsay or personal opinions over science and experience – the agriculture industry is in its current predicament due to this very reason.
However, it was also reported that the Cabinet of Ministers has directed the appointment of a committee to look into the possibility of suspending rice imports until the end of the year, and this committee would reportedly include Secretaries to the Agriculture and Trade Ministries, and a group of officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury. Whether stakeholders will also be included in this committee, or whether it will consult stakeholders later, remains unknown, but one thing is certain – if Sri Lanka relies solely on high-ranking officials when making such key decisions, the fallout would be similar to the infamous organic fertiliser plan.
A year ago, Sri Lanka took a decision which many alleged was not based on facts – i.e. official, scientific data and anecdotal data – or the opinions of farmers or stakeholders who work with farmers at the grassroots level. That is the former Government’s organic fertiliser plan, which continues to affect farmers and the general public to this day. In fact, that attractive but short-sighted and impractical decision was one of the major reasons behind the decreased paddy yield the country saw during the past year, and industry experts say that the Government’s organic plan is a good lesson about the consequences of unscientific decisions.
When it comes to the results of the organic plan, the most important question we must ask is, who is paying for the Government’s foolishness? The answer is, it is not those who made the decision, but the general public who keep paying taxes despite the collapsing economy and inferior living conditions.
Such a fate should not befall the general public again; they are already affected by the economic crisis to the extent they can barely manage to survive. The Government and the relevant authorities do not have to make any extra effort, but must do what any decision-maker is supposed to – take logical decisions based on the available data and evidence, and in consultation with industry stakeholders and experts. As a matter of fact, the failed organic plan highlighted to the country how industry experts and stakeholders are capable of making more judicious decisions and more accurate forecasts than the politicians in charge of the agriculture sector could.
This is certainly not the time to play with people’s lives and the country’s economy, and when it comes to essential goods such as food, the Government must be extremely cautious and responsible. Sri Lanka does not have the funds to correct the missteps of politicians or authorities.
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Discover Kapruka, the leading online shopping platform in Sri Lanka, where you can conveniently send Gifts and Flowers to your loved ones for any event. Explore a wide range of popular Shopping Categories on Kapruka, including Toys, Groceries, Electronics, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Automobile, Mother and Baby Products, Clothing, and Fashion. Additionally, Kapruka offers unique online services like Money Remittance, Astrology, Medicine Delivery, and access to over 700 Top Brands. Also If you’re interested in selling with Kapruka, Partner Central by Kapruka is the best solution to start with. Moreover, through Kapruka Global Shop, you can also enjoy the convenience of purchasing products from renowned platforms like Amazon and eBay and have them delivered to Sri Lanka.Send love straight to their heart this Valentine's with our thoughtful gifts!