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Food - Who Pays The Price?
Up one levelFood prices are rising fast – some are up by 40% in the past year alone. The supply chain that delivers food to consumers is under ever-increasing pressure. Many people are struggling to cope with a shortage of supply and higher prices. There have been food riots in parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Central America. So who are the winners and losers in this shifting agricultural landscape? Nik Gowing asks a panel of experts, including the food giant Unilever and Sarath Fernando representing small farmers from the developing world; 'Food - Who Pays The Price? You can view the debate from following link http://www.ifad.org/media/video/food/
Government pays attention towards dairy industry in the Eastern Province
Sri Lanka Government to strengthen cooperatives to import and distribute essential food
20 August: Sri Lanka government has decided to import essential food items directly and distribute them through cooperative societies island wide. The President Mahinda Rajapakse recently discussed the ways to implement this proposal with the Western Province Cooperative Organization that is recently formed by the combination of cooperative societies of the Province. The President pledged to provide all the tax reliefs currently granted to the private sector importers of essential commodities to the corporative sector that will engage in importing essential food. The President said that the government loses nine billion rupees per year due to the tax relief provided for essential commodities. However, the rural population of the country do not receive the subsidies provided the government, said the President. The President said that strengthening the network of cooperative societies is the solution for the problem. Menawhile. The Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka also reiterated the need for strengthening the cooperative network as an alternate distribution system. Country's cooperative network, which was once the major distribution network of the country but it was ignored and let to collapse by all the governments that came to power since 1977. The current government that is facing a severe economic crisis is attempting to face a famine situation in the future through the cooperatives.
What is this survey for?
Sri Lanka Ministry of Agriculture and Farmer Services has planned to conduct an island wide survey on natural water sources. The survey is conducted by the Department of Peasants' Services via the Agricultural Research and Production Assistants.
Sri Lanka government re-establishes the Paddy Marketing Board
07 Aug, Colombo: Sri Lanka government will officially re-establish the Paddy Marketing Board with the patronage of the President Mahinda Rajapakse on September 03.
