Senior Professor Buddhi Marambe of the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya said that despite the provision of subsidies for agriculture amidst the current economic crisis, farmers must strive to move away from a mindset reliant on subsidies.
He emphasised the need to cultivate a group of knowledgeable entrepreneurs among farmers, noting that this requires eliminating the dependency on subsidies from the farmer’s mindset.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, Professor Marambe stated, “Agriculture is a key sector contributing to the food security of a country. Many believe that complete food security can be achieved solely through agriculture. While this may not be entirely possible, our efforts should always aim to maximise agriculture’s contribution to food security. This sector includes not only crop cultivation but also fisheries and animal husbandry, which we must fully comprehend.”
He further explained that the country’s agricultural sector is not starting from scratch but has already evolved and developed. He stressed the importance of understanding the current advancements in agriculture and building upon them to make informed decisions for future progress. “In a country like ours, facing significant economic challenges, there are many measures available to uplift the living standards of farmers. While subsidies are one element, everyone involved in agriculture must work to break free from the subsidy mindset, and the government should also support this effort,” he added.
Professor Marambe clarified that this does not mean stopping subsidies altogether but targeting those with limited investment capacity. “It is essential to foster a section of knowledgeable and investment-ready entrepreneurs within the farming community. This will help us build a robust primary production system for the future. Although a long-term strategy is required for this transformation, providing some form of assistance to farmers under the current economic circumstances is a justifiable action. However, subsidies should not be extended to the entire farming population indiscriminately,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of assisting those with weaker investment capacity while offering farmers incentives to maintain their interest and engagement in farming. “If we do not gradually move away from the subsidy mindset, both farmers and the government may fall into a substantial economic trap. The funds we use for subsidies come from tax revenue, not from some private source. If the government spends a significant portion of its revenue on subsidies, it will lose opportunities to invest in other important economic development initiatives.”
Professor Marambe urged that future governments ensure that all key stakeholders in the food system are represented when making decisions. “Currently, when paddy cultivation begins, our focus is solely on the farmer. We tend to overlook the consumer. Once the paddy is harvested and enters the rice market, we shift our attention to the consumer and forget the farmer. This conflict needs to be addressed, and it is something that the President and all responsible parties should pay attention to,” he concluded.
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