Obtaining public participation to celebrate World Food Day.

On
the 12th of October 2021 there was a discussion held on zoom regarding a series
of programs to be held for a period of 1 month by the National Fisheries
Solidarity Movement and with several other organizations to obtain public
participation to mark World Food Day. It is expected to achieve several
objectives through this series of programs. The main Objective of the Zoom
meeting was to highlight the Right to food of common people.

Many
topics were highlighted here such as protecting the food rights of all
communities, identifying the problems faced by the average farmers in seed
production and distribution. Further problems caused by the intervention of
multinational companies in seed production and distribution were also
discussed. Market rights and the plight of farmers and the general public in
the face of the food market such matters were discussed there.

Representatives
from various organizations and sectors such as fisheries, farmers, and plantation
sector workers, NGO workers, Community organizations attended the meeting.

Representatives
of farmer organizations highlighted the problems that they experience in food
production. Many farming families are suffering from problems such as land issues
and rising fertilizer prices, seed shortages and high cost of living.

The
Fisheries sector members attached to NAFSO in Puttlum district explained the
difficulties that small scale fishermen experience, due to the high cost of
fuel they have to purchase for small boats and also the cost of fishing gears.
These problems have exacerbated the economic hardships of fishermen, leading to
a decline in fisheries production and the economic viability of fishermen and
their families.

Fisheries
representatives from the North of Sri Lanka highlighted a very critical issue
that they are experiencing currently due to Indian fishing trawlers. Indian
fishermen not only exploit fisher resources but they destroy valuable fishing
gears of Sri Lankan fisherman. Fisherman from North request that the Sri Lankan
Government should intervene at this stage and help the fisherman to overcome
the difficulties they undergo, as the people in North have suffered the 30
years civil war and have no proper income yet.     

Representatives
of the Plantation Sector workers explained the appalling experience that they
have experienced over more than hundred of years. He said that after working
for so many years the workers in the plantation sector have no proper place to
stay or any land belonging to them to grow their food for daily needs.

 The
severe hardships faced by people in these sectors reduce their contribution to
food production, thereby indirectly exacerbating their economic problems and
subsequent nutrition and health problems. Lack of proper economic management in
the country has led to disruption of food production and weakening of food
distribution and the rise of malnutrition and health problems due to such
conditions was highlighted at the end of the workshop discussion.

While
concluding the meeting participants agreed to conduct public awareness meetings
for general public,

and
also to organize more discussions with relevant government officials to have
some suitable interventions, initiate protest campaigns to draw the attention
of the government to intervene the grievance’s of the Ground level food
producers.