UNIDO helps Eastern farmers

Provides Rs 100 m for post harvest machinery:

Sanjeevi JAYASURIYA

The Eastern Province farmers will be assisted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) through the Chambers of Commerce at Batticaloa

and Trincomalee districts, UNIDO National Director Nawaz Rajabdeen told Daily News Business.

“We have identified the requirements of paddy farmers through farmer societies and supported them with machinery in the post-harvest time providing a facility of Rs 100 million. This is to increase productivity and quality through UNIDO program, he said.

Action has been taken to facilitate livelihood program in agricultural sector and train youth to handle and maintain machinery. The program also includes training youth to set up their own workshops generating employment opportunities. This is the most successful program assisted by UNIDO funded by Japan, Rajabdeen said.

The program has provided a further Rs 50 million to support poor farmers who are in remote villages not accessible to main towns. These programs are implemented and supported by the Batticaloa and Trincomalee Chambers of Commerce. UNIDO representatives monitor and evaluate these programs.

All machinery is given without collateral and interest component. The funds are reutilized to supply equipment to the agri sector, he said.

“We have also undertaken to conduct a pilot project to grow chillies and vegetables introducing drip irrigation system where we could improve productivity and save water and energy.

The national cleaner production program assisted by the UNIDO helps the industrialists to improve productivity, prevent pollution, minimize waste. The activities of the National Cleaner Production Centre which comes under the Industrial Development Ministry is funded by the Norwegian Government, he said.

UNIDO has further pledged a total of US$ 7.7 million for 2010- 2014 for promotion of micro industries, livelihood recovery, promotion of fisheries industry and cleaner production.

An additional US$ 3.5 million was approved for new identified sectors to create a cluster of industries - micro and medium and in bamboo for cluster of connected industries.

The bamboo industry is a major industry in Asian region that creates employment, environment friendly and generates income at village level.

This will be the first time that a new industrial venture introduced to Sri Lanka under the UNIDO program, he said.