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| Wednesday, 16 June 2004 |
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The North-East farmers will soon have easy access to quality seeds for various crops under a project to be launched this month. It entails emergency distribution of quality seeds and rehabilitation of quality seed production in the Province. The two-year project will be implemented in partnership with the Governments of Sri Lanka and Japan and the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations. Japan has committed funds to the value of Rs. 139 million to support this initiative, the United Nations Information Centre said yesterday. The Project's overall objective is to assist the country's efforts to improve food security and ensure a sustainable livelihood for those severely affected by the North-East conflict. The enhanced access to quality seeds will help North-East farmers to increase yields and improve the quality and value of their produce. The project will also encourage crop diversification and economically profitable farming systems. The project will be launched at a ceremony on June 17 at the Plant Genetic Resources Centre, Peradeniya with the participation of the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, the Ambassador of Japan and the FAO Representative in Sri Lanka. The project is expected to provide other benefits as well not only for the priority target groups, but also to the entire population of the North-East Province. Better nutritional status, use of improved crop varieties showing a higher level of disease resistance, reduction in the use of poisonous plant protection chemicals and the promotion of eco-friendly production techniques are among them. Through the emergency component of the project, seed kits with matching quantity of fertiliser will be distributed for the Maha planting season to 5,000 vulnerable farmers. Community managed revolving seed schemes will be set up to provide to further emergency assistance to 10,000 additional farmers during the Yala planting season 2005. Apart from the emergency component, support will also be provided for the rehabilitation of basic infrastructures on government seed farms in the Districts of Mannar (Murunkan), Kilinochchi (Paranthan) and Batticaloa (Karadian aru). The project will benefit nearly 40,000 farmers each year, while a medium-term plan will be proposed to expand the project to cover the total requirement for certified quality seeds in the Province within a time frame of about five years. |
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