World population to reach nine billion by 2040:

Cultivation drive in N-E

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The world’s population will reach nine billion by 2040. The immediate task would be to produce food for that number, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena said.

“It is a big challenge for all countries.

It is necessary to take immediate measures to face this challenge successfully,” he said participating the opening ceremony of the Ranaviru Farm of the 541 brigade in Vedithalathiv, Mannar.

It is easy to win the cultivation war after having won the war that prevailed over three decades, said the Minister.

A program is under way to cultivate vegetables and essential food crops in unused lands in the Eastern and the Northern Province army camps, Abeywardena said. Under this project, over 1,000 acres of land will be cultivated with essential food crops within two months.

Technology and seeds will be provided by the Agriculture Ministry, he said.

The 54 Division Commander Brigadier Maithri Dias, 541 Brigade Commander Aruna Muhandiram, Lieutenant Colonel Nishantha Muthumala, Mannar District Secretary Nagalingam Vedanayagam, Agriculture Ministry Secretary KE Karunathilake, Hadabima Authority Chairman Nandasena Herath and other officials participated.