Bata Atha Agricultural Technology Park:

Haven for agriculturalists

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Bata Atha Agricultural Technology Park was established in 2007 under the patronage of the Ports and Aviation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa to assist farmers to

 gain knowledge of small scale cultivation including home gardens.

This park has been established mainly to transfer technology to the farmer through live specimens, demonstration of new and old agricultural technologies, promotion of agro tourism for local and foreign tourists, distribution of seed varieties, plants, leaflets and other technology transfer materials, as a centre to distribute agriculture technology information and instruction of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

This park is an ideal place to see the practical examples of how crops would be grown successfully.

Food production drive

Through the President’s Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu countrywide food production drive most of the people try to get maximum use of their home gardens. As most of them haven’t even a basic knowledge about agriculture they are very keen to learn agriculture technologies.

There are two agricultural technological parks which are maintained by the Agriculture Department. One is situated in up-country at Gannoruwa, Kandy and the other down South in Bata Atha, Hambantota District. It is open for those who are willing to improve their knowledge about agricultural technologies.

Entrance to the park

The entrance to the park is from under an archway formed by two clasped hands. This symbolizes the bond among traditional farmers who had the concept share the farming system known as ‘Aththam’, said the Assistant Director of Agriculture Rohan Wijekoon.

This technology park is enriched with planting materials and a publications sales centre and information centre, demonstration plots of paddy cultivation, open air theatre, rain water harvesting farm, collection of citrus family crops cultivation, fruit garden, underutilized fruits crops, floriculture unit, granedilla cultivation, passion fruit cultivation, guava cultivation, pomogranate cultivation, a resting area, genetic landscaping of paddy, jak cultivation, herbal garden, improved chena, live crop museum, mango cultivation, home garden, Thumba cultivation, collection of grapes cultivation, nursery management unit, banana cultivation, seed laboratory and seed exhibition, bee keeping unit and bathing area also.

Variety of crops

The sheer variety of crops in the park is awe-inspiring. The park is very useful for agriculturists as well as for those who are interested in learning about crops. With the dawn of peace when tourists visited the South the Bata Atha Park could be a major attraction.

Dr Wijekoon also said “This park will be renamed as Chamal Rajapaksa Agriculture Technology Park in future and the President’s Secretariat will provide funds for the park. A National Agricultural museum, agro tourism cabanas will be established in this place in the near future.”