Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2015-11-05

Implementation of the Food Production National Programme 2016-2018

- Approval was granted by the Cabinet on 2015-10-14 for the implementation of the 'Food Production National Programme 2016-2018' presented by H.E. the President. Accordingly, a National Programme has been prepared by the Ministry of Agriculture with a view to ensuring food security, reducing imports through producing additional food crops locally and thereby saving foreign exchange as proposed in the said programme. In order to ensure food security in the country under this national programme, it has been proposed to identify and implement two main components namely improvement of crop production and implementation of programmes on 14 identified main sectors that are essential for agricultural development. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Duminda Dissanayake, the Minister of Agriculture, to implement the above mentioned programme during the period of 2016-2018 and to secure provisions required for the purpose, was approved by the Cabinet.