Sabaragamuwa, KAU to provide farming technology

Sabaragamuwa province plans to collaborate with the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) to expand technology and farming knowledge of farmers.

Sabaragamuwa Deputy Chief Secretary Sujatha C. Pallethenna said that details of the possible tie-up would be discussed in April when Sabaragamuwa chief minister and agriculture minister were expected to visit Kerala, The Hindu reported.

The deputy chief secretary is leading a 13-member delegation that has visited different parts of Thrissur since January 27 in a tour coordinated by the Central Training Institute of KAU’s Directorate of Extension.

“Kerala and Sri Lanka can share farming knowledge as they cultivate the same crops and have a similar climate. Sabaragamuwa is keen to imbibe Kerala’s strategies to develop its dairy sector, seed production and farm marketing techniques, and farm machinery production,” she said.

Sabaragamuwa province comprises the districts of Kegalle and Ratnapura. It has a population of 2 million. Nearly 85 percent of the population depends on agriculture.

Sabaragamuwa accounts for 36 percent of Sri Lanka’s tea cultivation, 40 percent of rubber production and 10 percent of food grain production. The province cultivates rice varieties such as BG 352, BW 351 and BG 94-1. “We want the KAU to share with us the know-how for producing quality seeds,” she said.

- Courtesy PRIU