More than targeted lands cultivated

M. A. Phakurdeen Addalaichenai group corr.

Under the "Nagenahira Navodaya" the cultivation of 100,000 acres of additional lands during Maha 2008/2009 in the Eastern Province and to enhance paddy production in the country was initiated by the Senior Advisor to the President and Member of Parliament Basil Rajapaksa. Up to now 115,000 acres of additional land have been cultivated, out of which 49,000 acres are abandoned lands in the districts of Trincomalee, Batticaloa and Ampara.

This was disclosed by A. R. M. Mahrouf, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock Production and Development, Rural Industries Development and Fisheries (Eastern Province) in an exclusive interview with the Daily News recently.

He said this was made possible due to the able leadership of Senior Advisor to the President Basil Rajapaksa with the fullest co-operation of the Minister of Nation Building Susantha Punchnilame, Governor Rear Admiral Mohan Wijewickrama, Chief Minister Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, Minister of Agriculture Thuraiappa Nawaratnarajah, the respective District Secretaries and the Officials of the Department of Agrarian Services and the Department of Agriculture.

Mahrouf said although the rains commenced late this season in mid October, more than the targeted abandoned lands have been cultivated, Assistance was given to farmers in terms of land preparation and free seed paddy by the INGOs and other Volunteer Organisations. In addition the farmers were also motivated and they commenced cultivation using their own inputs as well as assistance from NGOs and INGOs.

The programme is expected to boost paddy production in the country by additional 184,000 mt which will be harvested in February 2009 onwards.