'Farmers need National Cultivation Plan'

Ishara MUDUGAMUWA

The National Freedom Front requests the government to introduce a National Cultivation Plan for farmers by the next Maha season.

NFF politbureau member Piyasiri Wijenayake said Sri Lanka would be able to offset the effects of natural disasters, such as, drought and flood, if the country had a proper cultivation plan. "There are two types of drought call agricultural drought and meteorological drought. We are experiencing an agricultural drought. If farmers do their cultivations according to a plan, they can cultivate short term crops during this type of period." he said.

He said no one request farmers not to cultivate as it is their job. But we can direct them to cultivate crops which are suitable to the prevailing climatic conditions. Regular guidance for farmers is essential to overcome challenges in the agriculture sector, Wijenayake said.