Barren land cultivation:

Govt helps farmers

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Government will assist farmers to cultivate 42,000 hectares of barren lands in the Northern Province in the next Maha season, Agrarian Services Commissioner Ravindra Hewawitharana said.

He said the Department has identified 100,000 acres lying fallow due to the war. After the demining process is completed and providing infrastructure facilities, the Agrarian Services department will cultivate paddy during the Maha season which starts from September.

The Agrarian Services Department will provide two bushels of seed paddy for each farmer in Jaffna, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu districts and provide fertilizer subsidy.

More than 137,650 acres of fallow fields in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya, Mannar and Mullaitivu have been cultivated.

Under this program, Rs 4,000 will be given to 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.