Over 60,000 acres to be cultivated:

Govt help for Northern farmers

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Government will assist farmers to cultivate 60,000 acres of paddy lands in the Northern Province in the next Maha season, Agrarian Services Department Officials said.

They said the Government has identified 122,418 acres of paddy lands which were not cultivated for 30 years due to the war.

After the demining process is completed and providing infrastructure facilities, the government will encourage farmers to cultivate 56,000 acres in the Kilinochchi District and 25,000 acres in Mullativu District. Abandoned paddy lands in the other areas of the North are also to be cultivated.

Rs 4,000 will be given to the farmers to prepare their lands. Four wheel tractors will be given free through the Agrarian Services Department under the service foundation and two wheel tractors will be given at a concessionary price.

The Agrarian Services Department will provide two bushels of seed paddy per acre for farmers in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and also provide fertilizer subsidy.