Ten-year Horizon Development Framework - Ministry of Finance and ...

The goal of the livestock sector is to become more self - reliant in milk, improve animal nutrition
and health and promote self - employment At present domestic milk production meets only 20 percent
of the consumer demand in the country It is expected to increase this level to 25 percent at the end of
this period To achieve this target the feasible option in the short -run is to increase the productivity of the
domestic cattle and buffalo herds and expand the opportunity for milk marketing in the rural areas The
number of milking animals in a given time is also an important determinant in increasing domestic milk
production The livestock-breeding project implemented with assistance from the National Dairy
Development Board in India will therefore focus on improving the supply of quality cattle and buffalo
semen for Artificial Insemination (AI) services in the country
The livestock sector offers significant opportunities for increasing income generation in rural areas
The development of the skills and capabilities of livestock farmers and other personnel for the livestock
industry is also given strong emphasis in the government’s future development programme Solving
current industry problem such as environmental impacts of livestock production, accreditation of private
laboratories for disease investigations as well as certification of livestock produce, leasing of estate
infrastructure for private investment in animal disease diagnosis and vaccine production are some of the
other measures that will be undertaken by government in the future for facilitating the livestock sector
development
The fisheries development policy is aimed at exploiting the country’s aquatic resources in a
sustainable manner, while conserving the coastal environment The diversification of production and
exploitation of off shore deep-sea fisheries through the introduction of modern technology and efficient
fishing methods will be given priority It is also planned to reduce pressure on coastal resources through
the implementation of a fisheries management programme Government investment will also provide
appropriate infrastructure such as harbour, shore facilities, and marketing facilities
In the sugar sector, the main policy issue has been the need to ensure a reasonable price for locally
produced sugar The demand for higher prices for cane sugar from farmers, relatively low yields, low
sugar recovery rate, and an absence of factory expansion have resulted in a higher cost of production
eroding the financial viability of the industry, and compulsion on government to intervene in order to
maintain socio economic stability in the area
With the intention of injecting much-needed working capital, the Government will include poultry,
aquaculture, and sugar sectors in the present Non-Comprehensive Rural Credit Scheme (NCRCS)
implemented by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka
Cashew has become a cash crop that growers are interested to cultivate due to the high sales
prices of cashew nuts and the value added of its by - products The total extent under cashew cultivation
at present in Sri Lanka is about 32,870 ha, producing a total of around 8600 mt of nuts The average
annual kernel production is about 1200 mt of which over 1000 mt are locally consumed, leaving only
a small quantity of about 150mt for exports The major buyers of Sri Lanka’s Cashew are the Middle
East countries Besides, Sri Lanka cashew has a growing demand from Canada, USA, Germany,
France, United Kingdom, Israel, and Japan
In order to revitalize the industry as a whole, it is planned to increase the present extent under
cashew and the crop productivity on a sustainable basis Product diversification and value addition are
also two important aspects that have been paid attention in promoting the industry
Cashew is a crop that has the potential to sustain profitable livelihoods and income earning and to
provide meaningful employment to a large section of the farming community, especially in the poorer,
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