More abandoned paddy lands to be cultivated

By Ananda KANNANGARA

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The Ministry of Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services said the program to cultivate 100,000 acres of abandoned paddy lands will be extended to all major rice producing areas in the country within the next six months.

The initial step of the program was launched from Bandaragama in the Kalutara district on Thursday to cultivate several acres of abandoned paddy fields. Agriculture Development and Agrarian Services Minister Maithripala Sirisena got on to the paddy field at the auspicious time with farmers in the area.

Minister Sirisena told the Sunday Observer that in addition to abandoned paddy lands, steps have been taken to develop the vegetable cultivation, the poultry and dairy farming industry. According to statistics, nearly 70 per cent of fertile lands in the districts of Ratnapura, Kalutara, Southern province and North Western province have been neglected for several years due to financial difficulties, floods, lack of irrigation facilities and higher labour charges.

He said the Divisional Secretariats will have to play a major role to ensure that the cultivation program is successful.

"They will have to identify abandoned lands and deal with owners of such lands whether they are prepared to utilise them for agricultural purposes or handover to interested parties to cultivate essential agricultural crops," he said.

He said the Government has allocated nearly Rs. 67,000 million to grant fertilizer subsidy for next year and steps will be taken to help farmers by providing financial assistance through State and rural banks.

However, the Minister said that it was a crime to keep fertile lands idling as there are people keen to cultivate.