Indian corn cultivation mooted in NCP
 

BY Anuradhapura Special Correspondent Sarath Manulawickrema

THE North Central Province has drawn a plan to cultivate Indian corn on a large-scale to meet the annual requirement of the livestock industry and Health Ministry needs.

Sri Lanka needs about 200,000 metric tons of corn, but produce only 25,000 metric tonnes locally. If the project is a success, importing of Indian corn could be stopped, sources said.

The project to grow more Indian corn is carried out by the Government in collaboration with the North Central Provincial Council and the private sector.

Sources said while enough land was available in the North Central Province, the climatic condition was also conducive for such a crop cultivation in the Province. The only problem cultivators would face was the threat of imports and getting a good price for their produce.

The private sector entering into a bond with farmers started cultivating Indian corn on 30,000 acres of land in Galenbindunuwewa, Kahatagasdigiliya and Mihintale. It is estimated that one acre of land would bear two tonnes of harvest.

North Central Province Chief Minister Berty Premalal Dissanayake who toured Kahatagasdigiliya inspecting the crop cultivation with Livestock Resources Minister C. B. Ratnayake, said the Provincial Council would allocate 50,000 acres of land next year for the cultivation of Indian corn to meet the entire annual requirement. Ratnayake said his aim was to make the country self-sufficient in milk.