Wheels move to reorganize agrarian service centres

Stanley SENEVIRATNE- Kurunegala North group corr.

A reorganisation program for Agrarian Service Centres will be implemented to provide a better service to the farmer community, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

The provision of plants, seeds, fertilizer, technology and agricultural information to farmers will be channelled through the Agrarian Services Centres, the Minister said.

These centres in the North and East were destroyed by the LTTE. Some are under construction now and will be activated shortly, Minister Abeywardena said. The Minister said the Api Wavamu Rata Nagamu agriculture development program will be further expanded and expedited.

"Sri Lanka could be made self-sufficient in rice and other food items including fruits.

"The huge sum spent on foreign exchange to import them could be curtailed," the Minister said.

A scheme to set up a Model Home Garden in each Grama Niladhari Division will also be launched islandwide.

Farmers could seek assistance from the Agriculture and Agrarian Services Officers and obtain seeds and plants from the Model Home Gardens, the Minister said.

Minister Abeywardena said the Mahinda Chinthana Idiri Dekma envisages the country's self-sufficiency in rice and other food crops.

Ministry resources including those of the farmer community would be harnessed to realise this objective, Minister Abeywardena added.