Performance Report – 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

3.2. Sector-wise PerformanceEach development sector is governed by aset of policies and targets specific to thatsector within the national developmentframework. The functions performed undereach of the sectors were also on the basis ofsuch policies.Activities of each Sector at the Departmenthave been planned in a manner that thesectoral policies are fulfilled, targets areachieved and in line with the strategiesidentified in each sector. Ensuring theachievement of national as well as sectoralpolicies, goals and targets and successfulimplementation of sectoral plans andprojects by the line agencies are the maintasks of the staff of the Department ofNational Planning.The guiding sectoral policies and targetswhich prevailed in 2010 within the mediumterm development framework along withsector-wise details of performance in 2010are given below with a brief of current statusof each sector. A brief description of thetasks fulfilled by the staff under each sectoris also provided -Agriculture SectorThe agriculture sector plays an importantrole in the economy and employs about 33percent of the total labour force. Theagricultural sector contributed about 11.9percent to GDP in 2010 and 60 percent ofthe rural population depends on agriculturefor their livelihood. The total employment inthe agriculture sector has increased from 2.1million in 2005 to 2.6 million by firstquarter of 2009, generating 500,000 newemployment opportunities.The Agriculture sector, grew by 7.0 percentin 2010 compared with 3.2 percent growthin 2009. The gradual recovery in the globaleconomy, the complete eradication ofterrorism, continuation of the fertilizersubsidy and favorable weather conditionsare key factors that drive this growth.The government’s agricultural policy aims atrealizing multiple goals including-(a) Achieving the food security of people(b) Ensuring higher and sustainable incomefor farmers(c) Ensuring remunerative prices foragricultural produce(d) Uninterrupted access to competitivemarkets both in Sri Lanka and abroad(e) Farm mechanization(f) Expanding the extent under cultivation(g) Reducing wastage in transit(h) Ensuring environmental conservation(i) Introducing efficient farm managementtechniques and(j) Using high yielding seeds and improvedwater management.A comprehensive policy framework fornational agriculture was declared in 2007.Further, the National Seed policy and SeedAct were implemented to supply qualityplanting materials at an affordable price.Sri Lanka has about 2.8 million hectare ofcultivable land, of which about 21 percent isunder rice cultivation. The government hasembarked on large scale irrigation projectsand introduced high yielding varieties of ricein an effort to increase production. As aresult, the average annual paddy productionhas increased from 3.2 million metric tons in2005 to 4.30 million metric tons in 2010.This is an increase of 34 percent in this144