Help from United Nations World Food Programme:

Boost for thriposha production

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Agriculture Ministry has started two projects to support post harvest handling and increase the production of raw material for 'Thriposha' production with financial assistance from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), said Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane.

WFP has already provided 155 containers to store seed paddy fertilizer and 52 scales by spending US$ 414,000 to meet the lack of storage facilities in the Northern Province.

The WFP also donated funds to increase storage facilities in homes, promote rice flour industry at community level by introducing value added food items and develop post harvest technologies through farmer communities.

WFP also hopes to spend US$240,000 for these programmes.

They will also provide 100 plastic bins, rice boiling machinery, 20 grinders and post harvest training, the minister said.

The Agriculture Ministry and the WFP signed a memorandum of understanding to increase Thriposha production. According to the MoU, WFP agreed to increase the capacity of Thriposha factories, increase storage facilities and provide new machinery. They also agreed to increase soya bean and maize production. The Agriculture Ministry has started soya bean and maize cultivation projects in Anuradhapura, Abeywardane said.