Sabaragamuwa to experience agri-boom

B. W. Eheliyagoda- Kegalle special correspondent

The Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council will launch an agriculture and dairy farming program from 2011-2013, Sabaragamuwa Governor W.J.M. Lokubandara said.

Governor Lokubandara presenting the policy statement for 2011-2013 stated so at a meeting of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Councillors recently.

The aim of this program is to grow necessary food items in the Kegalle and Ratnapura districts. Presently an acre of paddy produces 70 bushels. It will increase to 75 bushels per acre under the program, the Governor said. The production of vegetables and other cereals will be increased by 10 percent.

The government will restore 450 minor reservoirs and irrigation networks in Sabaragamuwa to facilitate this move.

The program will supply water to cultivate 80 percent of the paddylands in the Yala and Maha seasons, he said.

There are 7,000 organic manure manufacturing centres. It will increase upto 10,000 centres, the Governor said.

About 45 million liters of fresh milk is produced in Sabaragamuwa and by 2015, 30 percent increase is expected.

The Livestock farming will also be developed by 50 percent. The fresh water fishery industry will be promoted.

Over 500,000 fingerlings were released to tanks in a year and this amount will be raised to 15,000,000 fingerlings by 2013, Governor Lokubandara said.