FAO grants agri-tools

Thellipalai, Jaffna, used to be one of the most fertile agricultural lands in the North, but the ravages of war left it barren and uncultivated for nearly two decades. With the end of the conflict, nearly all the original settlers have returned to the area from March 2011.

However, they must now clear their abandoned fields and prepare for the maha season. Given the fact they lacked the necessary tools to get started, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) stepped in to assist on the request of the Jaffna District Secretariat and the Thellipalai Divisional Secretary, with the granting of a set of agricultural tools to all resettled families under a Rs.9.5 million grant by USA and Sweden.

Ayyasamy Murugesu, one of the newly resettled beneficiaries stated that with the tools provided, he and his family can now clear their land to start their livelihood to be back on their feet soon thanks to FAO. The families received a package that included a mammoty, multi-purpose knife (Jaffna type), rake and watering can which will help them to clear and clean their lands and develop their homesteads. FAO will soon provide agriculture seeds and will continue to monitor the progress of the agricultural activities of the resettled families and make further contributions when necessary.