February 23, Colombo (LNW):Sri Lanka and Vietnam have entered into a bilateral agreement for an agricultural technology exchange program between the governments of the two countries.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Sri Lanka and Vietnam on a number of issues, including the exchange of agricultural technology and the development of the agricultural sector in both countries.
Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister of Vietnam Minh Hoan Le held bilateral discussions yesterday (21) in conjunction with the 37th Asia Pacific Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.
The agreement was signed on several matters such as agricultural technology, studies and research, exchange of experience, advanced seed production, application of fertilizers and pesticides, and training of farmers and officials so that they can get more yields.
The Vietnam Agriculture Minister expressed his pleasure regarding the fact that Sri Lanka has now become self-sufficient in rice. He also stated that Sri Lanka’s potential in food production should be appreciated, even though it is experiencing a difficult economic period.
Meanwhile, Minister Amaraweera said that although many people assumed that there was a food shortage in Sri Lanka due to the economic collapse, the people of Sri Lanka did not face a food crisis due to the measures taken by the government and the farmers despite the obstacles. He also said that the people should express their gratitude to the Sri Lankan farmers.
Specially, the new agricultural technology is widely used for the agricultural sector of our country at present. However, in order to get higher results from it, the country’s farmers should continue to use new agricultural technology.
Morerover , Agricultural technology is widely used in Vietnam. Vietnam has achieved a higher effectiveness in the sectors such as Agricultural research, new seeds with higher yield, animal husbandry, minimizing post-harvest losses.
Therefore, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has mentioned that the government is giving priority to further expanding the agricultural technology currently used in the country.
The Minister has mentioned that it is extremely important to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the exchange of agricultural technology between the Government of Vietnam and the Government of Sri Lanka.
He also claimed that the government has been able to create a wide awakening in all sectors under the current government by avoiding the difficulties that existed in the past.
Vietnam has introduced many varieties of paddy that can produce the highest paddy yield in the Asian region, and that many countries in the world are following the new technology in agricultural sector of Vietnam.
