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Seeks Government assistance:
Jaffna farmers upbeat
Charumini de Silva in Jaffna
Jaffna is a very rich district filled with both natural and human
resources. The district has the finest soil that could be found in the
country. Neerveli in Jaffna has a low population of 150 to 200 and has
one of the richest soils that could cultivate any type of fruit or
vegetable. The people living in this area are dependent on farming.
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Proprietor/farmer T. Chandrakumar and employees busy cultivating
red onion. Picture by Charumini de Silva |
“I have been farming onion, grapes, papaya, chillie and banana for
the past 20 years continuously. The taxes which we had to pay during
those days were much high compared to the current taxes. With the dawn
of peace the tax has reduced drastically.
Northern province red onion farming contributes 50 percent of the
country’s red onion demand”, Proprietor/farmer T. Chandrakumar told
Daily News Business.
The main challenges these farmers face are that during the drought it
is difficult to find water, for them to continue their farming and they
suggest the authorized Government institutions to provide deep wells or
a water pumping system as a solution.
Access to credit out of the town is comparatively less and the
farmers anticipate more development banks in the rural areas, he said.
Chandrakumar said that the cost of labour is Rs 550 per day and that
it is too much for a small farmer to afford.
This is mainly because the farmers do not want their children to
involve in the agricultural sector as they think it is not a reputed
line of business.
“We require more advice, technology assistance, fertilizer subsidies,
market access from the agriculture related Government institutions as we
expect to expand our business while contributing to a higher portion in
the agricultural sector of the country’s GDP”, he said.
He said that the dawn of peace was a dream coming true and that is
what matters for them most.
The Vaddikkili Vasantham (Uthuru Wasanthaya) development program has
done major infrastructure developments such as roads, electricity, water
and setting up other essential services in the Northern province. This
program was launched by the Government a few months ago.
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