Seed project launched

Nethali STRUYS

A community based seed producing project has been launched costing Rs 5 million, to overcome the shortage of seeds for farming in the country, Hadabima Authority Chairman, Nandasena Herath told the Daily News yesterday.

He said that the seeds the farmers presently used, were imported hybrid seeds and farmers faced many difficulties in getting a good harvest since the seeds did not suit the Sri Lankan climate. Further, most hybrid seeds could not be used for cultivating, as the seeds were not fertile. The Hadabima Authority has launched this project to develop seeds under the guidance of Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena.

The Authority has also selected 1,000 farmers to produce good quality local seeds for distribution among farmers islandwide. The quality seeds were to be distributed by September for the Maha season.

The first step would start from Moneragala District in Wellawaya, Thanamalwila Divisional Secretariat, since it had the perfect climate and soil for additional food crops such as peanuts, green gram, cowpea and corn. Seed villages were to be established in all parts of the country in the future to introduce a better system among farmers for the exchange of seeds, said Hadabima Authority media Coordinator B P S W Kumara.