Financial Times

Using science and technology in "Regaining Sri Lanka'
By Professor C.S. Weeraratna
Sri Lanka continues to be one of the poorest countries in the world. Our per capita GDP rose to US$ 899 in 2000 from US$ 473 in 1990 but fell to US$ 841 in 2001. The living standards of the majority of our people have not increased during the last decade. Around 40% of our people live below the poverty line. However, a number of countries in South East Asia have developed significantly during the last two decades resulting in a reduction in the percentage of the population below the poverty line. One of the factors attributed to this situation is the effective use of science and technology.

Although nearly 60% of the population is involved in crop/animal production, the annual expenditure on our major food requirements including milk has continued to rise in the last decade from around Rs. 18 billion in 1992 to Rs. 54 billion in 2002. The cost of production of paddy and other crops have escalated resulting in the high cost of living, unemployment and elevation of rural poverty. With the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India our products have to compete with those from India. Unless our products can successfully compete with regard to quality and price, our agriculture may be wiped out resulting in severe unemployment and poverty.

Regaining Sri Lanka
The government is attempting to take the country out of the present economic turmoil by implementing an economic development programme titled ‘Regaining Sri Lanka’. In this programme four challenges facing Sri Lanka have been identified and one of these is increasing income levels by higher productivity. With nearly 60% of the population involved in crop/animal production any endeavour to increase productivity and incomes needs to give priority to the agricultural sector. To increase productivity in this sector attention needs to be placed basically on.

* Increasing crop/animal production per unit of land.
* Reducing losses due to pests and diseases.
* Lowering cost of production.
* Better post-harvest technology.
* Development of agro-industries.

A large number of crops and animal products have considerable potential in various industries. The industrial potential of many crops presently cultivated in Sri Lanka is not adequately exploited. In addition, a large number of crops such as cane, bamboo, sunflower, castor etc. have a considerable industrial potential but are not cultivated to any appreciable extent for want of better and improved varieties, technological know-how and relevant market information. The demand for energy grows at around 10% per annum and is a limiting factor in increasing productivity.

Effective use of energy and exploitation of energy sources such as solar and dendro power, which have not been carried out adequately are important in any attempts to increase productivity.

Eppawela Apatite, an insoluble phosphorus-containing mineral, was discovered nearly 30 years ago in Anuradhapura District. Even at present this mineral is only ground and applied to crops as a phosphatic fertilizer, without utilizing it to make more soluble triple superphosphate (TSP) while importing it at a tremendous cost to the country. In all these endeavours to increase productivity science and technology has an important role to play.

Science and Technology
Appropriate scientific research and its use has always given adequate returns. For example in Sri Lanka development of better rice varieties, the results of a long term research programme, brought about a considerable increase in the average rice yields per hectare from 3.4 tonnes in 1992 to almost 4 tonnes in 2002. Another case in point is the successful control of the coconut catepillar Promotheca cumingi by the larval parasite Dimmockia Javanica which otherwise would have devastated the coconut plantations in the country.

A primary objective of the use of science and technology in a developing country such as Sri Lanka should be to utilize locally available resources. Research efforts need to be directed more towards these aspects which have a direct impact on production. It must be to solve those problems, which limit production quantitatively and/or qualitatively.

In our endeavours to use science and technology for development, it is essential that research priorities are decided based on the problems faced by the producers. To achieve this objective a strong relationship needs to be developed among the numerous research organisations.

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