A meeting was held at the Presidential Secretariat in Sri Lanka on 18 November to discuss a coordinated programme to address challenges faced by local potato growers. The session was chaired by Agriculture, Livestock, Lands and Irrigation Minister K. D. Lal Kantha and Trade, Commerce and Food Security Minister Wasantha Samarasinghe, with participation from farmer groups.
Minister Lal Kantha said the Food Security Committee intends to focus more directly on farmer concerns while ensuring that any measures taken do not place unnecessary pressure on consumers. He said the government, the Department of Agriculture, and growers should work jointly rather than as separate bodies when forming solutions.
Farmers reported that production costs have increased, with seed purchases representing about 40 per cent of total expenditure. They said irregular fertiliser use, substandard fertiliser and other inputs, declining yields, and limited availability of high-quality seed potatoes contribute to these higher costs. Growers also said previous administrations had not held similar discussions and expressed expectations for progress under the current government.
Following the discussion, Minister Samarasinghe said the government is considering a purchasing mechanism in cooperation with Sathosa, with buying prices in a range of Rs. 200 to Rs. 300 per kilogram, or about US$0.55 to US$0.83 per kilogram. He also said higher taxes on imported potatoes are being reviewed.
Minister Lal Kantha said support measures for farmers are under consideration. Plans include working with growers and the Department of Agriculture to reduce production costs through improved fertiliser and input supply, and the development of higher-grade seed potatoes. He added that a registration system for farmers will be introduced to organise government intervention in potato cultivation. Short-, medium-, and long-term responses will be prepared, with immediate measures targeted at current issues.
Officials from the Ministry of Agriculture reported that Sri Lanka consumes about 225,000 metric tons of potatoes per year. Domestic production is between 70,000 and 80,000 metric tons, with the balance supplied through imports.
The meeting also included Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, Ministry Secretary D. P. Wickramasinghe, officials from the Ministry and Department of Agriculture, and farmer groups from Badulla and Nuwara Eliya, the main potato-producing districts.
Source: ADAderana
