By: T.V. Padma
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The country, that emerged from decades of civil war in 2009, has identified biotechnology as one of its national priorities in agriculture, K. Karunatilake, secretary from the ministry of agriculture, told the 5th Asian Biotechnology and Development Conference in Kandy last week (15–17 December).
Sri Lankan agriculture is marked by deficiencies in productivity, technological innovation, quality seeds, workforce credit flow as well as poor access to international markets, he said.
Current funding for biotechnology is a low three per cent of the total research and development budget of the Council for Agriculture Research Policy that oversees much of biotech research.
Under its national science, technology and innovation strategy for next five years
the country will set up a national centre for excellence in advanced technology which will include biotechnology, nanotechnology and information technology. Inputs from this centre will feed into the proposed biotechnology council.