Projects worth Rs. 14,000 m under Gama Neguma in every GN division

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Minister Basil Rajapaksa at a harvesting festival in the East

A Wap Magul ceremony in the North

Under the new phase of Gama Neguma development projects worth Rs.14,000 million are carried out in every Grama Niladhari division of the country, said R.A.A.K. Ranawaka, Additional Secretary (Rural Economy) of the Economic Development Ministry. Projects for constructing minor irrigation systems, drinking water projects, poultry and concreting rural roads are given priority while a special project will be introduced to farmers on new packing techniques for fruits and vegetables.

"Under the purview of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa the 'Gama Neguma' project first concentrated on infrastructure development of villages and this year the plan was on implementing projects that directly contribute to increase the national production," Ranawaka said. Under 'Gama Neguma' in 2010 farmers are encouraged to re-cultivate abandoned paddy fields. Special attention is given to upgrade the dairy industry in villages. Villagers are encouraged to grow additional crops such as corn, greengram, chilies under these projects.

Seed paddy production

"We are assisting the Department of Agriculture to increase seed paddy production up to 50,000 bushels for the coming Maha season. With the North and the East provinces returning to paddy cultivation there is a high demand for quality seed paddy and by producing more seed paddy locally we hope to minimise the amount we import," Ranawaka said. In addition seed onion production will be increased as well. In Matara district alone over 600 acres of paddy fields are re-cultivated and in Hambantota 480 acres of paddy fields are cultivated. "We had to distribute seed paddy to flood affected areas. Specially in Gampaha, Matara and Galle," said Ranawaka.

Under the Gama Neguma 3,210 kilometres of rural roads were concreted so far in 2010.

In 2011 the village development plans drafted by Janasabha established for each village will be included in the National Development plan.

"The National Development drive will be planned for further three years and the Janashabas will have to draft their plans accordingly and forward them to the ministry through the District Secretary," Ranawaka said.

"Sri Lanka is one of the few countries that implements and experiments rural development in such a large scale, especially under the solid political guidance of Minister Rajapaksa," Ranawaka added.

Village unit

Understanding the importance of the village unit, President Mahinda Rajapaksa taking over Presidency for the first time in 2005, instructed the Government to initiate a special program to uplift village communities. Thus the Gama Neguma (Village uplift) started in 2006 in par with the Mahinda Chinthana.

These projects also improved the capacity of the regions to link with the mainstream of development. These have a catalytic role in boosting commercial activities in the villages thus making those communities a major contributor to national economy.

"The new approach of the Gama Neguma will strengthen the community participation in the rural development projects. This will pool all resources to be utilized in village development," Ranawaka said.