Farmers of most parts of the island have faced immense hardships as a result of the scarcity  of seed paddy for them to sow in this ‘Yala’ season. The Department of Agriculture attributes this scarcity to the damage caused to the harvest by  heavy rains poured during last ‘Maha’ season. Laboratory examinations  revealed that most of the samples obtained from farmers registered for seed paddy were ineffective in fertility. Therefore it has been a big problem for the Department of Agriculture too, when providing good quality seed paddy to farmers.

150,000  bushels

The quantity of seed paddy produced  in each season in Polonnaruwa which is one of the front line seed paddy producing  districts in the island, is said to be 150,000 bushels approximately. This quantity is being produced by the seed paddy farm owned by the Department of Agriculture situated in Kaduruwela, Polonnaruwa as well as by other registered farmers. Palugasdamana Multipurpose Co-op Society provides more than100,000kgs out of this quantity in each season to the farmers of the area. Mr. T.G. Weerathunga, Chairman of  said Co-op Society c points out that however, the new institutes have not been able to

produce even at least 50,000 kgs  of seed paddy. He attributes this failure to unfavorable  climatic conditions prevailed in previous ‘Maha’ harvest season.

“ In every season we provide over 100’000 kgs of seed paddy to the farmers. Palugasdamana Co-op Society is in the fore front of seed paddy suppliers of good quality.Farmers of the area have confidence in our seed paddy. But the heavy rains prevailed in previous season became an intense threat to our production.As a result of  rains fell over several weeks the reproducibility of paddy has faded away.It is only 40% of reproducible paddy we have this time . Consequently we failed to produce the amount of seed paddy expected in contrast to previous seasons.”

Nearly about 17,000 bushels of seed paddy are  being  produced each season by the seed paddy farm of the Department of Agriculture (Kaduruwela).But Mr. Chandima Jayasingha , Manager of the farm cum Asst. Director  of Agriculture (seed) states that they have failed to produce more than 8,000  bushels of seed paddy for this season. They have also faced  immense problems when providing the amount of seed paddy required by farmers for this season, he further states.

According to Mr. Jayasingha  the Department of Agriculture has decided as a solution, to purchase certain quantity of seed  paddy of identified varieties from private cultivators whose harvests have not been adversely affected by rains.These purchases will be carried out after the samples of relevant stuffs being duly examined. A sum of rupees three lacks has been earmarked for this purpose and one kg. of ‘Nadu’ is expected to be purchased @ Rs. 40/= per kg.and ‘Samba’@ Rs. 42/50 per kg, said Mr. Jayasingha.

The severe scarcity of of seed paddy prevailing in Plonnaruwa, which is an one of the front line rice and seed paddy producing districts, badly affects the other part s of the island as well.

Good quality seed paddy.

It is well known that the fact that our trend towards the use of low quality seed paddy is a major reason for the decrease of harvest that we experienced recently. According to Mr. R.P.Upali, Deputy Director of Agriculture (expansion), it is only 20% of the total farmer population are engaged in the cultivation of paddy approved by the department. The countries such as Japan and Korea have been successful in obtaining  very satisfactory harvests in consequence of using 100 % good seed paddy, Mr. Upaly stated.

Polonnaruwa district too had been successful in producing about 150,000bushels of seed paddy in each season, which was sufficient to fulfill the requirements of many agricultural districts of the island. In consequence of the adverse climatic conditions prevailed in previous harvesting season of ‘Maha’ the quantity of seed paddy could not be obtained as expected, and the examination of the samples obtained from the stocks supplied by registered private seed paddy suppliers as well as the co-op societies of the district reveals that most of what was received  were also low in fertility and mixed with weedy stuff. Accordingly we may deprive more than 60% of our harvests this time, the Deputy Director further stated.

Deprivation of harvest.

It is clear that damage caused by the rain may result in paucity of food within the country.

Likewise it is not so difficult to understand that the increase in the price if rice as well as the scarcity of rice in the market are attributable to said natural disaster. The fact that the torrential rains fell on most of our paddy producing areas including north central province will have an impact over the future of our paddy cultivation, may not most probably be well known.  

The fact that the only solution for the food crisis which is one of the challenges we are contemporarily facing, is to uplift the paddy cultivation in the country  is unequivocal. What farmer population points out is that the consequences of the eruption of  problems such as scarcity of seed paddy in an era which needs to explore new ways to uplift the production of our staple food  may come in the guise of  empty ears of corn instead of so called golden ones.

Fishing in troubled waters.

There are information at this moment to the effect that some well known agricultural organizations have resorted to capitalize on this position under the guise of finding solutions .It has been revealed that these companies sell seed paddy to farmers at various rates between Rs. 1,400/= and Rs.1,500/=  per bushel. What is unfortunate is that we do no have a powerful hand to take action against  these hypocrites who exploit the farmers despite the fact that there are so many personalities who hold ministerial positions in agriculture.

It is crystal clear that our paddy cultivation is now hell bent to be in jeopardy in consequence of the said problem too is seen as a burden amidst escalating cost of other agricultural inputs.

-Karunaratna Gamage.