Farmers the happiest lot in Jaffna

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Inspecting the Sangupitty bridge in Jaffna - From left : Jaffna Security Forces Commander Maj.Gen. L.B.R. Mark, Social Services and Social Welfare Minister Douglas Devananda, Northern Provincial Governor Maj. Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, the British High Commisioner Dr. Peter Hayes and Chairman of the Presidential Task Force for Northern Development Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa Pix: Samantha Weerasiri Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa, Ministers Douglas Devananda and Rishad Bathiudeen at the Vavuniya Progress Review meeting along with Nothern Province Governor Maj.Gen. G.A. Chandrasiri, Vanni Security Forces Commander Maj. Gen. Kamal Gunaratne and Vavuniya District Sectretary Ms. P.S.M. Charles

In the North it appears that the farmers are the happiest lot. Their smiles with gleaming eyes were signs of a prosperous future. The farmers of the legendary Northern Province will be bringing back the rich harvest that nourished the people of this country for centuries.

Selliah (45) is the proud owner of a luscious grape cultivation and a red onion cultivation in Uralu, Jaffna. He is one of those who have restarted cultivation in their ancestral lands after a lapse of several years. The red onion cultivation is fast growing with its lush green colour against the chocolate brown soil unique to the Jaffna peninsula.

Grapes tightly fitted in a bundle in many shades of purple and with luminous green raw berries tucked in the middle, were nothing but a striking scene with light green grape leaves in the back ground. It looked like the best picture of Mother Nature. This was the best cultivation the media team were privileged to see during the tour in the Jaffna peninsula. "We are starting to collect our harvest and I am cultivating after a several years. It looks like it is going to be a very good harvest," Selliah said, his eyes gleaming with hope.

Transformation

Sri Lanka is a land renowned for cultivation and a rich harvest with glorious past. To us farmers are superior than kings. Be it the South or the North, farmers formed a greater part of the economy of the country. At present, being free from the iron grip of the LTTE the Northern Province is privileged to enjoy the especial attention of the development drive spreading across the country.

The areas in the Northern Province were facing a gradual degradation due to LTTE terrorism that was prevailing for many years. This resulted in a massive destruction of public and private buildings, dwelling houses and infrastructure facilities. The displacement of people resulted in stalling their economic activities. Hence the Government is compelled to fulfil a wide range of reconstruction, rehabilitation and human development activities including resettlement, reconstruction of infrastructure facilities, educational and healthcare facilities and most importantly creating income and employment generation opportunities.

Northerners for centuries depended on agriculture and even today it is the prominent source of income of these people. Jaffna district where Jaffna town, the capital of the province is situated has a different type of agricultural practices than the Vanni. Basically the farmers of the Jaffna peninsula use underground aquifers fed by 'Andiya' wells to irrigate their land while the Vanni depends on irrigation tanks fed by rivers. Of the crops that were produced in Jaffna, paddy, chillie and red onion gave a major part of the harvest.

Valukkalai Aru main channel work in progress

Work in progress at the salt water exclusion system in Jaffna

Displaced families waiting to return to their homes in Jaffna

Fruits such as grapes, mango and plantain were the favourite of people even from other parts of the country. Jaffna grapes and karthacolomban mangoes had a very high demand in the markets islandwide and continues. Jaffna and Vanni soil supported a rich harvest of papaya, lime, orange and guava. The soil, climate and definitely the untiring efforts of the farmers brought a grand harvest of these crops with its unique taste and aroma.

Vast paddy fields around the Giant tank in Mannar are being de-mined and the main irrigation systems are getting repaired and reconstructed.

With such developments taking place the fertile lands of the Mannar 'rice bowl' will be free and safe for the farmers to cultivate and it will enhance the agricultural contribution towards the national economy.

While ensuring enough bare consumer requirements such as shelter, food and potable water and relief services to the displaced families of the North until they are resettled and afforded with their income generating opportunities, programs are being implemented covering every field related to restoring the status-quo of the day-to-day life of the people in the North with direct and indirect interventions by the line ministries under the umbrella of 'Wadakkin Wasantham' (Northern Spring).

More lands for Jaffna farmers

The Presidential Task Force for Northern Development, under the leadership of its Chairman Senior Presidential Advisor Basil Rajapaksa MP, is dedicatedly looking into implementing the 'Northern Spring' mega development drive, especially the 180-day program, creating an environment conducive to resettle the displaced families and ensure their income generating avenues.

While re-establishing the destroyed facilities the Task Force, jointly with the Northern Province Governor, District Secretary, Divisional Secretaries, Pradeshiya Sabha Officials as well as the officials from the line ministries are progressing with the implementation of the required programs to meet the basic requirements of the people.

During the latest progress review meeting on Jaffna district development activities at the Jaffna Public library it was revealed that there are more arable lands in the district to which the local authorities need to give more attention to bring back its cultivation. Chairman Basil Rajapaksa gave clear instructions to the relevant officials to have discussions with the security forces officials to release lands that were restricted due to safety concerns and explore cultivation in such lands in addition to the already identified ones.

In Jaffna many areas have been brought to normality while the newly liberated areas, especially the Vadamarachchi West area, is progressing to normalcy.

Vavuniya

In Vavuniya, we have identified nearly 2160 acres of paddy land for cultivation located in 35 villages," Northern Province Governor Maj. Gen. G. A. Chandrasiri stated the entire Northern Development is taking place. He said within these villages 2160 acres of paddy fields and 1520 acres of arable lands are available. "De-mining in these identified villages are progressing fast and hopefully we will be able to let those farmers to re-start their cultivations as soon as possible".

"Farmers will be given a subsidy of Rs. 4,000 per acre and three bushels of seed paddy and fertilizer will be issued free as per the instructions of the Chairman of the Northern Development Task Force Basil Rajapaksa. Government will also supply agriculture machinery for the farmers," the Governor said.

In addition 35 minor irrigation tanks located in these villages will also be reconstructed.

"A major part of the de-mining is done by the Sri Lanka Army in these newly liberated areas and it is the priority Number One in this rebuilding process. Before the start of any of these activities the land should be cleared and secured," Governor Chandrasiri stressed.

Water to cultivate

The Government has taken several measures to reconstruct and renovate the irrigation systems in the Northern Province, under the instructions of the Presidential Task Force assigned for Northern Development. The de-mining process is being carried out in areas surrounding the Giant Tank in Mannar and the Iranamadu tank in Kilinochchi. With the present progress officials believe the de-mining work will be completed soon, enabling the restart of cultivation.

"Priority will be given to ensure that the de-mining process is carried out in such a way that no threat will be posed to the people and their livelihood activities after the resettlements," Governor Maj.Gen. Chandrasiri added.

Several irrigation tanks located in the Vavuniya district will also be renovated. This includes tanks in Pirappanamaduwa and Kanakkayagama villages. These were where Sinhala people were living and fled the area almost two decades ago in fear of the death threats from the LTTE.

A new irrigation project, namely the Varukkai Aru scheme is initiated at a cost of Rs. 103.99 million.

Construction work in Jaffna to renovate several irrigation schemes are already moving ahead under the 180-day program of the 'Northern Spring' Development plan. A total of Rs. 138 million is allocated for the work.

Affiliated to a major salt water exclusion scheme, 11 development programs are implemented at a cost of Rs. 28.6 million.

Two minor irrigation tanks in Jaffna are also under renovation at a cost of Rs. 3.4 million.

Under the Upparu lagoon development project the Ariyalai barrage will be completed soon.

A separate dam will be constructed in Kappoothu at a cost of Rs. 125 million.