Free seed paddy for farmers

by S.M. Wijayaratne, Kurunegala Corr.

Paddy farmers would be provided with free seed paddy to grow 50,000 acres of lands without using harmful chemicals and artificial fertiliser, next season. Over 2,000 acres of lands are now cultivated to obtain necessary seed paddy for this proposed project.

No chemicals have been used to grow these seed paddy that is to be provided to farmers free. A kilo of this seed paddy variety would be sold to farmers at Rs. 60. After two years this program would be expanded to provide people with chemical free indigenous varieties of rice for the consumption, said the Senior Lecturer Dr. Channa Jayasumana in the University of Rajarata.