All should help agri drive

‘Api Wawamu, Rata Nagamu’, the National Food Drive has been very successfully implemented in the East and has helped revive the agriculture sector.

Two decades of conflict has dealt a severe blow to the agricultural sector in the Eastern Province, said Eastern Provincial Council Agriculture Minister, Thuruiappa Nawaratneraja at the Third Session of the Presidential Task Force for the national operation on indigenous food production.

The Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu programme was launched under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa to minimise the outflow of foreign exchange, revive the local economy, develop agricultural exports, thus creating a healthy nation.

The programme envisages the active involvement of all line ministries, Provincial Councils, Provincial Ministries, Local Government institutions, State institutions, local and provincial leadership.

The programme is also aimed at the cultivation of vegetables and other food crops on homegarden basis, formation of a mechanism for purchase of local produce and 10% annual reduction in the import of food items that could be locally grown.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said the cooporation of all quarters would be necessary to make the food drive a success,” Whether it is Central Government or Provincial Councils, it should not make any difference. Consensus among all is a must,” the President reiterated.

The President stressed on the need to harness the knowledge and skills of both university students and agriculture college students. He assured that steps would be taken to provide storage facilities in every district and instructed the officials to construct new stores buildings according to accepted standards.

By now around 38,000 students in 23 districts have been made aware of the importance of the Api Wawamu Rata Nagamu programme.

Agriculture Minister Maithripala Sirisena said the exports on 36 crops are effectively conducting research and advisory roles in their respective fields.

“Under the programme to raise awareness among the people, the Agriculture Department, Mahaweli Authority and Hadabima Authority have taken action to distribute two million jak saplings and a special programme to encourage the people to re-cultivate fallow lands,” said Agriculture Minister.

The Yovun Govi Padanama has set up youth training centres at Kandy, Matale, Nuwara Eliya and Hatton for the ‘Api Wawamu, Rata Nagamu” programme.