Boost for seed production

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Agriculture Ministry has taken measures to provide facilities to farmers to produce high quality seeds to save money spent annually to import seeds, said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane at a discussion held with the task force appointed to study the possibility of producing high quality seeds locally.

Sri Lanka annually spends Rs. 400 million to import seeds. The Minister directed the task force to pay attention to produce additional crop seeds in the Yala season by using irrigation water. Sri Lanka is self-sufficient with seed paddy.

the Minister requested private sector companies to pay attention in producing potato, upcountry vegetable and additional crop seeds by using new technologies such as tissue culture.

The minister also agreed to provide facilities to them.

"Farmers could generate additional income from seed production. The Ministry is ready to provide all facilities such as land and technical assistance needed to produce high quality seeds. Local farmers could be hundred percent sure about seeds produced by the Agriculture Ministry. But we still could not meet the local demand," he said.

"The Ministry hopes to produce the entire amount of big onion seeds before 2013, " the Minister said.