A webinar on the plantation sector was conducted by the CEMBA-CEMPA Alumni Association, Sri Lanka of the Open University of Sri Lanka.
The chief guest was Dean Faculty of Management Studies, Prof. V. Sivalogathasan and the guest of honour, CEMBA-CEMPA Program Coordinator and Senior Lecturer Dr. Champika Liyanagamage. Eminent industry experts, faculty members and students were also present.
This webinar was the fourth event of an ongoing knowledge sharing series.
“We as alumni believe that conducting these programs is a giveaway to the country of the knowledge that we have gained while at the university,” said CEMBA-CEMPA Alumni Association, SL President Indraka Liyanage.
The event falls in line with the University’s Continuing Professional Development (CPD) initiative, providing individuals with essential skills to progress in their careers.
The contribution of the plantation sector to the economy was debated, as agriculture has proved to be one of the sectors with a positive outlook.
However, it was also noted that the industry was one that is subject to a number of deliberations due to the challenges faced by the community that partakes in plantation activities.
Emeritus Professor in Plantation Management at Wayamba University of Sri Lanka, Asoka Nugawela said, “A strategy to enhance the contribution of the plantation sector to the national economy is to increase productivity through good agricultural practices and expanding the extent under cultivation which is currently decreasing. If we can identify suitable land to expand our cultivation, that can enhance the contribution of the industry to the national economy.”
He said that the level of productivity of all major plantation crops currently planted is rather low when compared to the potential. By enhancing land productivity through ethical agricultural practices, a reduction in cost of production can be expected, profiting producers as well.
According to findings of the Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka, rubber can be introduced into non-traditional areas where the tree productivity can be increased by having higher number of tapping days when compared to wet zone areas and therefore, growers and investors should be encouraged to do it.
“The shortage of skilled people to manage the plantations was another issue identified which contributes to the poor overall performance of the plantation sector,” he said.
He also discussed crop diversification as a major strategy to enhance the contribution of the plantation sector to the national economy while benefiting investors.
“We also have to think of non-traditional crops for which demand is continuously increasing and the prices are high. One such crop is the oil palm. Currently, we have only about 11,500 hectares which is low compared to other crops. 11,000 kilograms per hectare is the productivity and with the small extent the contribution to the national economy is about 7,371million rupees. Compared with other crops, it is a noteworthy amount.
“With good agricultural practices, productivity can be further increased up to 16,000 kgs per hectare, which will reduce our cost of production and increase the profitability per kilo. At this productivity level the profitability to the grower will be around Rs. 917,000 per hectare per annum.”
National Institute of Plantations Management Director/CEO Dr. Prasad Dharmasena said, “There are some important initiatives to be implemented to increase the plantation sector’s contribution to the GDP. We have to maximise the financial inflow and minimise the financial outflow in the plantation industry. I would say that one opportunity is plantation tourism.
“We produce nearly 200 agriculture graduates a year. If we can expand agriculture and plantation management openings by 500 opportunities for local students saving Rs. 1 million per head, the total saving would be approximately 500 million. We also can enroll some foreign students who want to continue their higher studies.”
Elpitiya Plantations Director Bhathiya Bulumulla said, “We have slightly above 11,000 hectares of oil palm currently on our plantations but if you really compare the other countries that have been successful in this industry, Malaysia has 32.9 million hectares in agriculture, out of which 6.14 million hectares in oil palm and Indonesia has 12 million hectares in oil palm. With this 11,000 hectares, we are saving 7 billion dollars per annum.”
CEMBA-CEMPA Alumni Association, SL has more events and CSR projects in the pipelines, and extends an open invitation for all to participate. Through sharing knowledge, the series of events is dedicated to enrich the lives of the population, benefiting the entire nation in return.