NCP to be made rice, soya exporting zone

Nimal WIJESINGHE, Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr.

On the instructions of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the North Central Province (NCP) is to be converted into a rice and soya exporting zone.

Secretary of the Provincial Agriculture Ministry R K Premasiri informed the recent monthly District Agriculture Committee Meeting that it was the view of the President that there were paddy stocks available in the country sufficient for nearly 13 months and hence there shall he a programme designed for the export of rice.

Under the circumstances, the Provincial Agriculture Ministry jointly with the other government and non-governmental agencies functioning in the region in the field of Agriculture Development would make necessary arrangements to achieve the targets.

In the meantime the adjoining Mannar district also being transformed into a rice exporting zone under the Agriculture Development sphere of the Uthuru Wasanthaya and Mannar Reawakening Programme.

After 32 years in the current maha season 40,000 acres in Mannar district have been cultivated with paddy as advanced milling facilities are being promoted in several paddy producing areas in the district such as Manthai and Nanattan.

The Japanese International Corporation Agency will be supporting the rice export programme and the once abandoned Agathimuruppu tank in the Mannar district is being restored and rehabilitated under the PEACE project, a Sri Lanka, Japanese joint Irrigational Development project at present. The cost of this project is Rs 200 million for cultivating 2632 hectares.