New lease of life for Thinnaveli Agriculture Research School

Lakshmi de Silva

Thinnaveli Agriculture Research School, Jaffna is to be rebuilt and upgraded to a high level with Indian agriculture expertise and exchanging bio-technology and the other modern agricultural methods with assistance from Tamil Nadu experts, Agricultural Development and Agrarian Services Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said at his Ministry yesterday when he met visiting Indian agriculture experts.

India has done a lot of research in agriculture and it was beneficial for both countries to share the expertise and especially to help our people in the North and East who had suffered during the past 32 years. Farm mechanics, appropriate technology, soil management, bio technology and other agricultural know-how in Tamil Nadu should come to Sri Lanka, the Minister said.

The Indian delegation including Vice Chancellor University of Agricultural Science Banglore Dr. P.G. Chengappa, Vice Chancellor Tamil Nadu University Dr. P. Murugesa Boopathi, Representative from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute Dr. K. Vijayaragavan and Indian High Commission First Secretary B. Shyam said they were willing to help the agriculture development with IDPs in the North and East and to start their livelihood in agriculture sector by providing seeds and assistance after assessing the situation.

First Secretary Indian High Commission B.Shyam said India was assisting in the revival of agriculture in the North and East so that the people of those areas could benefit by it.

Minister Nanayakkara said in the 2000 home garden projects under the food production drive in Sri Lanka the best home gardens were those cultivated by women.