Fifteen agrarian officers on the mat for corruption

Irangika RANGE

COLOMBO: The Ministry of Agrarian Services and Development of Farmer Communities has interdicted 15 Agrarian Research and Production Assistant officials following allegations of fraud and corruption in the distribution of the fertiliser subsidy.

Addressing a media briefing in Colombo yesterday, Minister S.M. Chandrasena said most of the irregularities were reported in Ampara, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Hambantota districts.

"We will show no mercy towards the culprits irrespective of their political affiliations. The maximum punishment will be meted out to these elements," the Minister said adding that Police stations islandwide are carrying out raids to apprehend the culprits.

He said the major objective of the fertiliser subsidy is to help farmers maximise production and ensure self-sufficiency in Agriculture.

The Minister has informed farmers and farmer societies to bring to the authorities notice instances of corruption.

"With the provision of the fertiliser subsidy for the past three Yala and Maha seasons to farmers, paddy harvests have shown a significant improvement," he said.

The Minister said the country has a surplus paddy stock of 135,000 metric tonnes from the last Yala season.

"We are now in the process of distributing the fertiliser subsidy for the utilisation in the forthcoming Maha season. Farmers received sufficient water for their cultivation this year after 50 years and it is one of the reasons for the success. Various farmer related programmes have also directly helped to achieve the agricultural targets," Chandrasena said.

The Ministry will sign an agreement with the Polish Government to supply 100 metric tonnes of paddy from next month. Under this programme, Samba and Sudhu Kekulu rice will be exported to Poland.

The Ministry is also in the process of popularising rice flour products as against items turned out from wheat flour.

"We will provide 100 rice grinding machines to farmers to promote rice flour products," he said.

The Ministry will commence the programme of supplying rice flour under the concessionary rates to dealers in rice flour in the near future.