Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka Gopal Baglay stated that the Government of India will fully support Sri Lanka in finding solutions to problems in the agriculture sector.
The Indian High Commissioner was speaking during a meeting with Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera at the High Commissioner’s official residence recently.
The meeting was held to express gratitude to the Government of India for its decision to provide fertilizer to Sri Lanka at a time of need.
The supply of 65,000 metric tons of Urea fertilizer to Sri Lanka by the Government of India was discussed at the meeting.
The Indian High Commissioner said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the supply of the fertilizer to Sri Lanka and that steps have been taken to direct the ship with the fertilizer imported from Oman to India to transport the consignment of fertilizer to Sri Lanka at the earliest possible date.
It was also agreed to provide the necessary support for Livestock Development in our country. Minister Amaraweera pointed out that due to the current economic crisis, especially due to the shortage of food for animals, there has been a breakdown in the dairy, egg and poultry industries.
As a result, Sri Lanka’s liquid milk industry fell by 19.8 percent, poultry production by 12.1 percent and egg production by 35 percent.
The Minister pointed out that the prices of these food items have also gone up beyond the means of the people. In addition, the Indian High Commissioner requested for the expansion of sunflower cultivation, which is not widely practiced in Sri Lanka at present.
High Commissioner Baglay said that if sunflower cultivation is expanded, India could provide the necessary technical and market cooperation.
“There is a high demand and price for sunflower oil in the international market. Therefore, farmers in our country can get a higher income as there is a suitable environment for such cultivation,” he said.
On behalf of the Government of Sri Lanka, the Minister stated that he would like to thank the Prime Minister of India, the Indian High Commissioner and Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India Milinda Moragoda about the steps taken by the Government of India to provide fertilizer for the Sri Lankan agricultural sector.
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