Model agriculture farm in Mannar

Resettled IDPs to benefit:

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional District group correspondent

Arrangements are being made to start a 100 acre model agriculture farm in Murungan, Mannar district close to the high level spill of the giant tank.

Commenting on the new venture, Mannar Reawakening Programme's Institutional Affairs Chief Irrigation Engineer Palitha Wickramatilake said that the project implemented on the Irrigation Ministry Secretary, Engineer Ivan Silva's guidance will benefit resettled Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

"IDPs being resettled in Murungan and the suburbs will benefit as permanent crops such as coconut, jak and mangoes as well as drumsticks and brinjals and chillies suitable to the area's climate are being cultivated. "Since they have been in welfare centres for years, they are not aware of the modern agricultural techniques and technology improved seed varieties or the government subsidies in the field," he pointed out.

"The model farm will educate them and provide quality seeds for cultivation," Wickramatilake said.

He said it was envisaged to cultivate 3,000 acres with paddy and field crops. The target is to cultivate 15,000 acres in 2012 Yala season and 30,000 acres during the 2012 Maha season, Wickramatilake added. Pioneered by Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa, a mega agricultural and irrigation programmes will be carried out in Mannar under the "Reawakening Mannar" programme costing Rs. 650 million.

Plans are afoot to rehabilitate feeding canals extending Kuruvil, Periyaudappu, Isamalkadai and Adakkalamodai canals. In addition, damaged spills of 50 small tanks will be restored.