Rs 410 m to fund food production drive

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Government has allocated Rs 410 million for the Api Wavamu Rata Nagamu food production program for this year. It is estimated to spend Rs 1,231 million for this program, an Agriculture Ministry spokesman said.

The Government has introduced this program with the objective of increasing local food production and reduce the amount of imported foods. Under this program, the Agriculture Ministry will train farmers to use carbonic fertilizer. Under the carbonic fertilizer production and promotion program, 16,000 metric tons of carbonic fertilizer were produced in 2010 yala season. it is expected to produce 40,000 metric tons at the end of this year, he said.

He said as a major function of this program, the production of essential food varieties has been started by introducing essential food items and cultivation technologies for farmers. Under this, home gardens are also promoted.

Under the Api Wavamu Rata Nagamu Program, 26,000 acres of barren fields will be cultivated before the end of this year, spokesman said.