Ceylon Chamber webinar to address food security challenges

With the subject of national food security gaining increasing urgency, the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, in association with the National Science Foundation, will conduct a webinar on addressing the challenges of food security, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., on June 7, 2022.

With impending food shortages in the coming months emerging as a distinct possibility, the impact of the non-availability and reduced availability of required inputs for agricultural production, poultry and livestock and fishery output, is of grave concern. The webinar will assess the ground situation in terms of actual needs and address multiple factors affecting the supply of food and nutrition for the people of Sri Lanka.  Presenters and participants will brainstorm to explore solutions that will support the availability of food through adequate local production of food grains, vegetables, fruits, yams, lentils, dairy and livestock products and fishery and other agricultural products, aiming to develop recommendations for stakeholders to implement an urgent action plan. 

The webinar will be presented by Director General of Agriculture Dr. Ajantha de Silva, Prof. Buddhi Marambe of Faculty of Agriculture of University of Peradeniya, National Agribusiness Council Chairman Mario de Alwis, Agribusiness Development Ltd and Ceylon Biscuits Ltd Director Rukshan Gunatilaka and Hayleys Fertilizers Ltd CEO Nandalal Perera.

The session panellists will include Prof. Ruchira Cumaranatunga of Fisheries and Aquaculture Department of University of Ruhuna, University of Colombo Prof. Emeritus of Sociology Prof. Siri Hettige, Consultant FAO and former DG Agriculture Dr. W.M.M.A. Weerakoon, JK Marketing Services (Pvt.) Ltd (Keells) Technical Head Fresh Produce Nirmal Hettiarachchi and MRI Head of Nutrition Department Dr. Renuka Jayatissa.

The session will be moderated by Chamber of Commerce Agriculture Steering Committee Chairman and Sri Lanka Agripreneurs’ Forum Chairman Rizvi Zaheed. 

The corporate sponsors of the session are Commercial Bank (Pvt.) Ltd and MAC Holdings (Pvt.) Ltd.  The webinar will be conducted via Zoom. Participation is free and registration is now open at https://event.chamber.lk/Details/Event/182.