Alternative crop cultivation project

Mahinda P Liyanage, - Galle Daily News correspondent

A special project to cultivate alternative crops in barren or neglected paddy fields throughout the Galle district has been launched by the Agrarian Services Department, said Galle district Assistant Agrarian Services Commissioner Ravi Prasad Kalupahana.

He said under the project, potential farmers will permitted to grow alternative crops such as vegetables and yams of diverse types twice a year on unproductive paddy lands for three years, he said.

Kalupahana said however, permission for the use of such lands would be solely granted in consultation and recommendation of Farmer Organisations and Agrarian Services Committees.

These revelations were made at the Galle District Agriculture meeting held under the patronage of Galle District Additional Secretary Malani Lokupothagama at the Galle District Secretariat.