අර්බුද මැද ඇමති ලාල් කාන්තගෙන් ගොවි හමුවක් : වී වගා පිරිවැය සහ රජයේ ඉදිරි දැක්ම

Agriculture Minister Lal Kantha Addresses Farmers Amid Controversies: Production Costs and Government Vision Outlined

Despite facing severe criticism and controversy recently over his remarks regarding cultivating maize instead of paddy, as well as issues surrounding paddy purchasing prices, Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land, and Irrigation K.D. Lal Kantha has laid out his stance during a special farmers’ meeting held in Anuradhapura.

Addressing the gathering at the Anuradhapura Provincial Management Development Auditorium yesterday (28), the Minister strongly emphasized the government’s steadfast commitment to uplifting the lives of the farming community and ensuring national food security.

Key Points Highlighted by the Minister:

• New Production Cost Report and Guaranteed Prices: A newly compiled cost report for the Yala season, prepared collaboratively by the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agrarian Development Department, and several other institutions, was presented at the meeting:

  • Red Nadu (per kg cost): Rs. 76

  • White Nadu (per kg cost): Rs. 87

  • Samba (per kg cost): Rs. 97

  • Kiri Samba (per kg cost): Rs. 119 Responding to long-standing requests from farmer organizations, the government has factored in a 30% profit margin on top of these production costs to determine guaranteed prices, along with a fertilizer subsidy of Rs. 30,000 per hectare.

• Food Imports and National Planning: Pointing out that essential food items such as potatoes, onions, wheat flour, rice, and basmati still need to be imported from abroad, the Minister stressed the critical need for systematic, plan-driven agricultural practices to prevent food shortages.

• Pressing Forward Despite Criticisms: Noting that the country is currently traversing a transformative era, the Minister stated that despite various challenges, criticisms, and media or political pressures, he remains unfazed and dedicated to making decisions that prioritize the welfare of the people.

• Other Government Relief Measures: Highlighting that the current administration has not granted any special privileges—such as vehicle permits—to politicians or ministers, the Minister noted that state resources are instead being channeled toward public welfare. This includes increasing public sector salaries, enhancing the fertilizer subsidy, providing a Rs. 6,000 stationery allowance for school children, and purchasing paddy through the Paddy Marketing Board at guaranteed prices.