Annual Report 2008 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

6. A Sectoral Perspective
252
In terms of the inland fisheries sector, several steps have
been taken to improve the infrastructure facilities, enterprise
development, and community empowerment under the
Aquatic Resources Development and Quality Improvement
Project funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB). All
Regional Aquatic Development Centres improved under the
project. Loans amounted to Rs. 10 million were distributed
among micro enterprises to improve the fishing operations.
Fingerlings were stocked in 31 perennial tanks under the
Community Based Management Project. In addition,
1,061,475 fingerlings were released to tanks free of charge
by the National Aquatic Resources Development Authority
(NAQDA) during the year.
Several measures were introduced to improve the marketing
facilities of wholesale and retail distribution of fish under the
modern standards. A guaranteed price scheme continued in
2008 and 161 metric tons of fish were purchased by the Ceylon
fisheries Corporation (CFC). The construction of the wholesale
and retail fish market at Peliyagoda had commenced. The
construction of fish markets in Trincomalee, Hambantota,
Polonnaruwa and Puttlam were also completed in 2008.
Importation of food items
The import expenditure on food and beverages sector
increased by 41 percent in 2008 amounting to US$ 1,505
million. This accounts to 16.2 percent of the total imports.
Particularly due to the increased international prices of
wheat, milk powder and sugar observed in the first half of
2008. A wider spectrum of imports of food items indicates
the future need and prospects for increased local food
production, to reach self sufficiency and value addition.
Accordingly, a local food production drive, “Api Wavamu-
Rata Nagamu” programmme was initiated to achieve these
policy objectives. Government continued channeling funds
for enhancing agricultural credit facilities, developing
irrigation facilities, providing quality seeds and planting
material, providing fertilizer subsidy while measures were
implemented to safeguard from unfair import competition.
Also, agriculture has been exempted from income tax, VAT
and Nation Building Tax.
Table 6.16
Major Food Items Imports
Year 2005 2006 2007 2008 (Provisional)
Item
Quantity
(MT)
Value CIF
(Rs. mn.)
Quantity
(MT)
Value CIF
(Rs. mn.)
Quantity
(MT)
Value CIF
(Rs. mn.)
Quantity
(MT)
Value CIF
(Rs. mn.)
Rice 51,729 1,554 11,536 577 88,003 1,261 118,554 5,067
Wheat 956,148 15,798 1,174,604 20,473 854,864 22,756 661,421 40,820
Wheat Flour 150,436 3,200 13,578 321 5,797 229 1,969 92
Sugar 444,244 14,096 520,599 22,970 470,706 16,346 541,568 22,000
Dhal 84,396 3,100 104,807 3,802 103,195 6,593 79,751 9,001
Chillies 27,261 1,629 29,410 2,739 31,242 4,080 35,284 4,579
Red Onions 10,233 304 10,859 377 23,754 949 28,019 1,622
Big Onions 110,713 1,826 119,478 1,940 140,728 4,392 154,498 3,790
Potatoes 46,464 1,117 48,799 1,266 85,929 2,211 105,544 2,672
Dried Fish 50,284 3,784 50,455 5,507 51,743 6,253 48,924 6,110
Milk Powder 52,800 12,581 68,105 16,716 62,081 19,318 63,774 30,581
Vegetables 925 98 708 119 733 154 309 62
Fruits 38,656 1,336 40,806 1,498 37,242 1,551 39,062 1,471
Fish 5,310 775 6,986 1,291 11,152 1,863 5,136 389
Meat 2,560 291 1,065 186 1,710 258 1,394 173
Total 61,489 79,782 88,214 128,409
Source: Statistics Division, Department of Sri Lanka Customs
Ministry of Finance and Planning Sri Lanka
Annual Report 2008