Additional seed crops to be distributed

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The Agriculture Ministry has taken measures to distribute additional seed crops for farmers through provincial Agriculture Departments on the recommendation of the Agriculture Department, states an Agriculture Ministry Official.

"Cabinet approval was granted to import seeds from India for distribution among farmers who lost their cultivations due to the recent floods.

"Accordingly, 25,000 kilos of green gram, 35,000 kilos of cowpea, 50,000 kilos of undu and 85,000 kilos of peanuts were imported from the National seed corporation, India at a cost of Rs. 48 million," he said.

He also said that about 150,000 hectares of paddy fields and 45,000 hectares of land on which additional crops were cultivated were destroyed in the Northern, Eastern, North Central, North Western, Southern Provinces and Mahaweli areas due to bad weather. Under the guidance of the President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane decided to provide free seed varieties for farmers.