Seed paddy for North

The Agriculture Department has distributed 1,650 bushels of seed paddy for paddy cultivation in the North last year.

The distribution of seed paddy will further expand the self-production of this category of paddy needed for cultivation from next season in this region.

Meanwhile, the Agriculture and Agrarian Services Ministry has taken steps to provide a financial grant of Rs. 5,000 to each farmer family who are to be resettled in Vavuniya, Jaffna, Mannar, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi districts for home gardening.

The Ministry also plans to grant Rs. 17,500 per hectare to these displaced families in these districts to bring the fallow lands back into paddy cultivation.