Comments on: Elephantine wastage

By: Vikalpa

Vikalpa — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 04:35:14 +0000

Vilakpa has three relevant videos here.

http://www.vikalpa.org/archives/479

By: Nuwan

Nuwan — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:08:42 +0000

This must be inline with the recently inaugurated ‘Pilisaru’ Program … read about it — http://www.colombopage.com/archive_08/March25130828CH.html

By: bandula gunawardena

bandula gunawardena — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:43:34 +0000

wait wait wait. i will solve this problem soon. i will start both economic centers and budget shops inside paddyfield to eleminate the middleman.

By: Chanuka

Chanuka — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 08:37:53 +0000

This cartoon is from 'Lakbima' - a Sinhala daily in Sri Lanka.

The famer (left) says he feels suicidal when he sees the (low) prices of paddy. The consumer (right) agrees.

The question is how that happens. How BOTH the farmers and consumers suffer? Shouldn't at least one benefit?

I have my own answer (not the traditional 'middleman takes all' theory) but first like to hear the views of others.

By: Punchi putha

Punchi putha — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 08:09:34 +0000

OMG! I thought Kaba Raala uncle was only printing money. Did not know he was drilling oil too.

What will he do next? Distill arrack?

By: Parakramabahu

Parakramabahu — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 07:56:48 +0000

let alone vegetables, even if the oil is found in mannar basin under this government, lanka cannot see any development. we can see another nigeria here. our politicos are so stupid and corrupt we will lose the benifeits. minister fowzie is already locking horns with central bank on oil issue. he wants the absolute control over oil.

By: Thusitha Dandeniya

Thusitha Dandeniya — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 06:26:26 +0000

In the ancient periods we grew for export markets. That is how we became the ‘granary’ of the east. Even colonial powers correctly realised this potential. Portuguese made people grow spices, Dutch cinnamon and British coffee, tea and rubber. None of these was intended for local market.

Export market is the only way to make agriculture a decent occupation. Unless they grow products to export market, farmers are not going to make any money. Price controls etc are obsolete, temporary and stupid ‘solutions’.

During Parakramabahu’s period rice might have been an expensive commodity, but now it has lost value in international market. Green revolution further made the rice prices come down. However, our rulers starting from Senanayakes kept on pushing paddy cultivation – perhaps first due the rice shortages we experiences during WWII and then for exploiting its popularity for political purposes. That will not take us anywhere.

Even today, as JVP correctly points out, those who make money from paddy cultivation are Araliya and Nipuna mudalalis, and not farmers. What JVP does not understand is that imbalance cannot be addressed by state intervention. The only way farmers can be taken out of the trap is to make them grow products for export market.

So ‘Api vavamu Rata hadamu’ will never work under a regime that focuses only on local markets and completely ignore international potential.

By: Api Wawamu

Api Wawamu — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 04:09:58 +0000

So much for LK government’s Api Wawamu Rata Hadamu program. Wish it is only a propganda tamasha. If they really do it, it is the ‘elephants’ who will get the benifits. You know what I mean. Unplanned work will help the ‘elephants’ more than the citizens.