Drive to empower N-E farmers

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Government will start a program to strengthen the farmer community in Northern and Eastern Provinces with Japanese Government financial assistance, Agriculture Ministry Officials said.

As the first phase of the program agricultural machinery including two wheel tractors, water pumps, ploughs and potato digging machines will be given to farmers in Killinochchi tomorrow with the participation of the of Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi, Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane and Agriculture Deputy Minister Jagath Pushpakumara.

The Japanese Government provides agri machinery under 2KR program since 1971 with the objective of enhancing the food production capability in Sri Lanka.

They have given 50 four wheel tractors, 1,024 two wheel tractors, 400 water pumps and 10 potato digging machines to the Agricultue Ministry valued at Rs.520 million for 2010.

The Japanese Government will assist Northern Farmers through The Agrarian Services Department.

The Murunkan Seed Production Farm in Mannar and the Paranthan Seed Production Farm will also be reconstructed under this program at a cost of Rs.156.9 million.