Highland crops to be grown in Wanni

Highland crops will be cultivated in Wanni, Kilinochchi, Kilinochchi District Secretary Rupawathi Kethiswaran said.

Under the first phase of this program farmers who cultivate paddy under the Brandamanaru irrigation system should cultivate highland crops limiting paddy cultivation to meet the shortage of vegetables in the Wanni.

Kethiswaran said that the waning interest in growing vegetables and grain cultivation resulted in the increase in vegetable prices in the district.

She said that some farmers cultivate lands under the Brandamanaru irrigation system give priority to paddy cultivation, the area is experiencing a shortage of vegetables.

Hence farmers in this area have been asked to cultivate highland crops to maintains stable vegetable prices, she said.

Kilinochchi district farmers who incurred losses due to the recent floods will be granted relief assistance to uplift their living conditions, Kethiswaran said.

Plans are under way get relief assistance from the Presidential Task Force for Northern Development and economic Development Ministry. The Kilinochchi District Secretary said that nearly 19,000 acres of paddy fields have been affected due to the recent floods.

-MN