This article is based on an interview with senior Additional Secretary to the President, Saman Bandulasena. In his 41-year service Saman Bandusena also served as an SLAS officer since 1998. He was the Anuradhapura Divisional Secretary in the Northern Province (from 2021 to March 2024) and District Secretary, Vavuniya (2020/21) among various other posts he held. He holds a BSc in Bio – Science and an MBA in Business Administration.
senior Additional Secretary to the President, Saman Bandulasena
According to Sri Lanka’s history paddy cultivation had shown significant advancement during the reign of King Parakramabahu of Polonnaruwa (1153-1186). He constructed 163 large tanks, 2,376 small tanks and ponds, 3,910 canals and 165 dams. It is recorded that during this period, Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in paddy and even exported the surplus to other countries. However, the ancient agriculture system now faces many challenges due to environmental damage mainly the destruction of forest resources. As a result farmers encounter numerous problems, including water scarcity, reduced soil quality, lower production, pests, rising input costs and climate change.
Earlier, a designated area of the village was allocated for chena cultivation, and the cultivation was alternated within this reserved area. The Kanathu method was a sustainable practice at the time. Under this method, the land cultivated in one year was left fallow in the following season and reused in subsequent years, maintaining a proper environmental balance, and fertility.
Over time, the introduction of commercial agriculture, mechanisation, the use of agro chemicals and other factors led to significant deforestation. This degradation reached a point where the authorities could no longer manage or balance it effectively. In the Northern Province, particularly in the Jaffna District, fruit, vegetables, and cereal cultivation have been conducted systematically. Jaffna residents living on limited land, utilised water from wells through the Andia method. However, with mechanisation, some land degradation occurred.
Currently, the rising costs of kerosene and electricity pose significant challenges to farmers. Environmental degradation and the use of chemical and fertiliser have led to an increase in cancer and kidney ailments. A sustainable solution to address the crisis is the need of the hour.
Issues faced by the agriculture sector
Returning to ancient cultivation methods is ideal to achieve sustainable agriculture. However, deforestation of limited forest areas this target seems increasingly impractical. Therefore, it would be more feasible to adopt Modern Agricultural Technology while minimising environmental damage.
In agricultural pursuits, it is time to use modern technology to minimise issues and maximise the use of available resources.
Encouraging / promoting exports
i Minimising imports by developing import substitution products
ii Increasing the number of Micro, Small, and Medium-scale Entrepreneurs (MSMEs)
iii Increasing livelihoods
To achieve these objectives, it is suggested leveraging the experience and research of the Provincial Department of Agriculture Northern Province gained through foreign funded projects such as the Agriculture sector Modernisation project and the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture project.
The use of modern agricultural technology can help reduce imports and increase exports directly through the products and indirectly through the production of various by-products.
Bandulasena said the solutions to these issues are as follows:
i. Land Issue: Using modern technology consistently results in an income that is more than double that of traditional agriculture for all crops. This implies that less land is required compared to traditional methods. For instance, to achieve the income from one acre of chilli using modern technology, approximately seven acres would be needed to be cultivated using traditional methods.
ii. Water Issue: Water scarcity is a significant problem in agriculture. Jaffna experiences low annual rainfall (approximately 1150 mm per year) and lacks sufficient ancient tanks to store rainwater. In traditional chilli cultivation, water is directed straight (flowing) to the plants, with modern technology and other considered crops use less than half the water needed by traditional methods.
iii. Fertiliser Issue: The soil quality (Soil Health) in our country is currently very poor. This is because nutrients are continually removed from the soil due to harvesting and soil erosion and are not replenished at the same rate. Even when essential nutrients such as Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium (are added, the amounts are often insufficient. In addition, rising market prices and less availability of chemical fertiliser have led to a gradual decline in fertiliser use.
Almost every crop requires significantly less fertiliser when cultivated using modern technology. Traditional chilli cultivation requires 1,650 kg of fertiliser per acre, applied in multiple stages necessitating additional labour and time. In contrast, modern technology uses a limited amount of fertiliser integrated with irrigation, eliminating the need for extra labour or time. Only 188 kg of fertiliser is required per acre for chilli cultivation using modern technology, which is nine times less.
iv. Labour Issue: In the past, agriculture was the main livelihood in our country, farming was a part of their lives and was passed down from generation to generation. However, due to declining profits and various other problems, many farmers are moving away from agriculture. There is currently a noticeable decline in youth participation in agriculture, as young people are less interested in traditional farming methods. They prefer to achieve higher incomes in a shorter period with less labour. Introducing modern technology to agriculture can address the labour shortage
v. Weed Issue: Weed removal is a significant challenge in traditional agriculture. The use of weedicides incurs substantial costs and poses severe environmental and health risks, including cancer and kidney diseases.
Agricultural technology
However, modern agricultural technology mitigates these issues. For example, in chilli cultivation, weedicides are unnecessary as the ground is covered with polyethylene mulch. Crops such as red onion, passion fruit, papaya, and groundnut require weeding or weedicides only once, while other crops do not need weeding or weedicides at all. This approach reduces initial costs and increases profits.
vi. Insect Issue – In chilli cultivation, insects such as Thrips, White-Flies, Aphids, Mites, and Pods drill worms pose significant challenges, often leading to extensive use of insecticides. Traditionally, farmers apply insecticides such as Carbosulfan, Thiamethoxam, Imidacloprid, Abamectin, Pymetrozine, Lufenuron, Fenobucarb, Azapet, Profenofos, Sulfur, Chlorfluazuron up to 40 times per acre. This approach not only incurs high costs but also necessitates the use of highly toxic chemicals, impacting both the environment and human health.
vii. Market Issues and High Machinery Prices:
Farmers not receiving a fair price for their products is a significant issue in agriculture today.
To address these issues, the Agricultural Modernisation project has proposed the setting up of agricultural production companies, known as Unlisted Agriculture Companies (UACs). Currently, there are nine UACs operating in the Northern Province, each focusing on a specific crop.
These companies offer a range of services to farmers, including the introduction of new technologies, ensuring fair prices for their produce, adding value to products, and providing machinery services at reasonable prices. They also supply essential inputs like quality seeds and fertiliser at affordable rates and offer advice on managing crop diseases.
The UACs represent a promising solution to many of the challenges faced by farmers, including market access and machinery costs. However, the success and further strengthening of these companies requires continued Government support and guidance.
The total cost per acre with the traditional method is Rs. 1,392,720 while using modern technology, it is Rs. 1,158,000. This shows that the cost of cultivation with modern technology is lower than with traditional methods. The fixed goods for modern technology last for more than eight years, reducing the actual cost per season to less than Rs. 300,000. This significantly increases the profit. In traditional cultivation, only 12,000 chilli plants are planted per acre, whereas, with modern technology, 26,000 plants can be grown under high-density conditions in the same area.
There are 13 types of crops that have been identified and are planned for cultivation by ASMP in the Northern Province including the number of farmers and the area under cultivation. Currently, 3,665 acres are cultivated by 6,930 farmers. These 13 types of crops can be expanded to 24,170 acres by about 56,000 farmers.
Using modern technology and assuming an average yield of 20 MT per acre, about 12,500 acres are required to meet the dry chilli demand. The annual consumption of green chilli in Sri Lanka is about 60,000 MT, which would require 3,000 acres if cultivated with modern technology. Therefore, a 15,500 acres cultivated with modern technology would suffice to meet the country’s green chilli and dry chilli requirements.
Currently, 550 acres of chilli are cultivated by 2000 farmers under the Agriculture sector Modernisation Project (ASMP) in the Northern Province. The ASMP indicates that an additional 5,850 acres can be cultivated by 13,000 farmers in the Northern Province. If farmers are provided with the necessary facilities and this target is achieved, more than 50 percent of the required green chilli and dry chilli could be produced in the Northern Province. The remaining amount could be grown in the Northern Province or in the North-Central, Eastern, or other suitable nearby provinces.
By providing technology to farmers who already have basic inputs and offering technical know-how and low-interest bank loans to other suitable farmers, Sri Lanka could achieve self-sufficiency in green and dry chilli production without burdening the Government. This would save approximately Rs 50 billion (≈166 million USD) and provide the public with poison-free chilli for consumption.
By setting up Unlisted Farmer Companies for various crops, ensuring fair pricing for products, providing machinery at reasonable cost and adding value to the products, market issues and high machinery costs can be controlled. The minimal use of insecticides and weedicides boosts the demand for these products both locally and globally., The nine unlisted farmer companies in Jaffna are already established within the province, alongside other agriculture-related institutions and research centres. To enhance their contribution, the following recommendations are proposed:
i. Upgrade and monitor Unlisted Farmer Companies (UFC) through collaboration with Government agreements.
ii. Educate and train members of the UFC in marketing, packaging, pricing, financial literacy, storage, modern agricultural technology, value addition systems, and more.
iii. Introduce and increase the number of UFC to support farmers, particularly those involved in Other Field Crops (OFCs).
iv. Encourage credit institutions to provide credit facilities to individual farmers and farmer groups based on their needs.
v. Encourage UFC to open outlets for the sale of fertiliser and other equipment used in modern technology at a fair price.
vi. Orient youth entrepreneurs in agriculture through UFC and Government institutions, emphasising the use of modern technology.
vii. Maximise the use of abandoned land and available water resources for food production through modern technology, and solar energy at its maximum.
* Tables have beeen removed
