• Query R&D science, tax reliefs

Opining that economic recovery would be impossible unless the country’s rulers pay attention to building an agriculture-based production economy, farmer groups expressed disapproval of economy-related plans presented by Presidential candidates, including with regard to the agriculture sector.

The National Agrarian Unity organisation’s President Anuradha Thennakoon explained to The Daily Morning that, despite the present state of the agriculture sector and the overall economy of Sri Lanka, Presidential candidates’ plans and promises are limited to increasing the prices of paddy and providing fertiliser at reduced prices or free of charge. He said that such short-term and short-sighted plans, even if implemented as promised, are not sufficient to develop either the agriculture sector or the national economy, and are therefore disappointing. 

“They are talking about modernisation and technology for the agriculture sector. But, there are no discussions about research and development. The country’s agriculture sector has collapsed due to several reasons such as climate and weather-related changes, post-harvest losses, and damages caused by wildlife. This requires a scientific plan, which none of the Presidential candidates or political parties have presented,” he said. 

Moreover, Thennakoon said that farmers should be rid of what he called the ‘subsidy mentality’, adding that instead of continuing to provide subsidies to farmers, the farmers’ economy and the quality of life should be developed in a sustainable manner. Opining that a stable environment should be created where the farmers’ vocation can thrive in order to build a quality life, he said that achieving such is impossible with the plans presented by Presidential candidates. 

“Sri Lanka is a country where all agricultural inputs are taxed, sometimes more than once. What Presidential candidate has proposed to remove these taxes? This is a social cost, and an investment for the future,” he opined, noting that while taxes are important, when it comes to sectors such as the agriculture sector that have an influence on many aspects of the country’s affairs, tax reliefs should be considered.