High quality seed nurseries to be set up

S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala corr.

The Agriculture Department of the North Western Provincial Council has taken steps to produce high-quality seeds of cash crops which are to be distributed among the farming community at the beginning of next year.

Three nurseries producing high quality seed varieties and plants will be set up at the Galgamuwa, Panduwasnuwara and Nikaweratiya Govt. farms on the instructions of Minister of Agriculture and Agrarian Services Maithripala Sirisena.

Measures have been taken by the Agricultural Ministry of the NWPC to expand its programmes of producing quality seeds of cash crops this year to coincide with the ‘Api Wawamu and Rata Hadamu’ Programmes launched by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

R.M. Somathilake, an Assistant Director of Agriculture in the Kurunegala District said that Rs. 2.5 million has been allocated for this project by the Central Government and 400 unemployed youth in the NWP will get jobs.

He said that a massive programme to educate the farming community on preparing carbonic manure and the benefits of using such manure too has been launched as the use of chemicals and artificial fertilizers has led to illnesses and other health disorders among the people.