|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Tuesday, 10 June 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Richard de Silva The Moneragala District has been found to be the most suitable area for rubber growing in Sri Lanka. Research carried out by experts on soil, climatic conditions, rainfall, temperature etc. have found in Moneragala an intermediate climatic zone which has ideal conditions for rubber cultivations. These tests were carried out under an America Aid programme. Minister of Plantation Industries, Lakshman Kiriella under the initial stage of bringing Moneragala under rubber cultivation directed the Rubber Development Department to bring 4000 hectares under rubber in 2003 and 2004. Officers involved in rubber plantations were asked to expedite rubber cultivation and also provide expert advice to farmers. After reviewing the progress of the rubber cultivation programme in the identified areas of Moneragala, the Minister insisted that 4000 hectares be brought under rubber cultivation by planting over 1 1/2 million plants during 2003 and 2004. Minister Kiriella also directed the Rubber Development Department to provide expertise advice, the subsidies and other assistance to farmers involved in this special rubber cultivation programme. Moneragala District MP Ranjith Madduma Bandara has already identified 500 hectares of land suitable for cultivation of rubber and released them with permits to farmers. The farmers and the youth of Moneragala and Badulla Districts could be the proud owners of rubber plantations which could provide jobs to a large segment of the rural population. This is exactly what Minister kiriella and the government is aiming at. "Rural people will be the dignified owners of cash crops too in the future", Minister Kiriella told a conference of officials held at his Ministry a few days ago. "The intermediate climatic zones found in Moneragala and Badulla Districts ideal for rubber are; - Medagama, Bibile, Badalkumbura, Wellawaya, Buttala and the area along Badulla border. These areas are ideally suited for rubber in respect of weather. In these identified areas relatively lower number of wet days per year is experienced than in the traditional rubber growing areas. This results in more number of tapping days. Further the relatively low humidity will help in quick drying of wet panels and that will help increase the number of normal tapping days and reduce the number of late tapping days. These attributes can have significant positive impacts on productivity. It has been estimated that at least 1 1/2 million plants would be necessary for the initial state of the planting programme in 2003 and 2004. The sources of supply will be nurseries of Regional Plantation companies and new nurseries of the Rubber Development department in Moneragala and Nurseries at Mirigama, Kegalle, Ratnapura and Kalutara". |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
