China helps promote agri-technology

Nimal Wijesinghe- Anuradhapura Additional district corr

The Chinese government agreed to help promote agriculture technology in the North Central Province. Farmers should be encouraged to take to scientific agriculture in place of traditional methods of farming, said North Central Chief Minister Ranjith Samarakoon. The chief Minister was participating at an event to introduce Chinese maize cultivation technology to a group of farmers in the Pandulagama village in Anuradhapura and Nuwaragam Palatha Divisional Secretariat Divisions recently.

The Chief Minister said it has been envisaged to expand the maize cultivation in Anuradhapura from present 120,000 acres to 180,000 acres. The maize harvest had been so high that farmers were able to export their produce, the Chief Minister said.

He said advanced but simple Chinese agro-technology would be a blessing to the province, in the implementation of future agricultural development plans.

He said when advanced technology has been adopted in agriculture, it will attract youths to agriculture as a self employment. The move will help increase agricultural production and create more job opportunities, the chief minister said.