Agro equipment for farmers in conflict affected areas

The United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) has implemented a special project in the latter part of 2007 in the Eastern province. The project is mainly for people who were affected by war and resettled in their areas with the aim of giving them concrete livelihood activities in agriculture field by introducing modern technology to raise their income and thereby the standard of living.

The project is implemenped under Ministry of Industrial Development.

Under the aim of introducing the new technology among the farmers, UNIDO organised a function on June 4 to hand over the 2nd batch of Rs. 6 million worth of farm tractors and implements such as 2-wheel tractors, threshers, reapers, choppers, water pumps, trailers and spare parts for 2 years to the war affected farmers by the Additional Government Agent Mrs. Rupa Ketheeswaran.

The following officials specially participated and graced the occasion by distributing the machineries to farmers.

UNIDO - National Director Nawaz Rajabdeen, the President of Batticaloa district Chamber of Commerce Sunthareasan, UNIDO - National Project Coordinator Sarath Abeysundara, The Asst. Commissioner of Agrarian Services Dr. Rushanthan, Deen of Agriculture Faculty, eastern University Premkumar, The President of District Farmer Organisation staff, Regional Bank Managers, Divisional Secretaries and INGOs and NGOs representatives, The above equipments were given to the farmers belong to the DS Divisions of Paddipalai, Vellaveli, Vavunathivu and Chenkalady.

These equipment were issued to individual farmer members through the Farmer Organisations and the Women Societies and the beneficiary should pay back the value of the machineries in instalment basis to the Farmer Organisation.

The speciality of this project is to remove the dependability of farmers, change their attitudes and farmers could carry out all their activities idependently.

In the same way Rs. 12 million worth of 4-wheel tractors, 2-wheel tractors and the implements were issued to the farmers last year on July 7.

In addition, the UNIDO project has extended their activities in Kaluwanchikudy and Kaluthavalai and provided training on micro irrigation system to those involved in vegetable cultivation. Sprinkler equipment were also given to them.

UNIDO is also carrying out a project for self-employment to women to increase their income.

The project was launched in the DS Divisions at Vavunathivu and Paddipalai.

This is to make bags from palmyra leaves, cloth, and leather.

The people who were involved in this task were given training by national level experts.