Rural development projects through Vidatha

By L.S.A. Wedaarachchi

A program to develop the rural economy through "Vidatha Centre" network has been implemented by the Ministry of Science and Technology.

The rural farmers and small and medium scale entrepreneurs are able to obtain technology, financial assistance and marketing information for their agricultural and industrial ventures from village based Vidatha centres, said the Minister of science and technology Prof. Tissa Vitharana.

Under the alternative energy project of the Ministry, some of the factories have made arrangements to use "Gliricidia sepium" as energy generating source. The Director of Alternative Energy Division of the Science and Energy Ministry A. Joseph said that Gliricidia Sepium was identified as the best energy plant or the fuel wood in Sri Lanka.

"The use of fuel wood as a substitute for petroleum, diesel, furnace oil or LP Gas is economically very attractive. A tonne of furnace oil is marketed at Rs. 54,000. To replace this with wood, we require approximately 3 tonnes of wood and it costs only Rs. 9,000.

The economic advantage is much higher if diesel or LP Gas is replaced with wood, he said. The heating energy for the factory will be generated by gliricidia at the end of next month, said the Operations Manager of Industrial Clothing - Prime Polymers Division at Sitawakapura Industrial Zone, Avissawella. An islandwide program for the cultivation and collecting of "Gliricidia" had been implemented through "Vidata Centres" by the ministry few months ago.

The marketing coordinating company of the "Gliricidia Project" "Senok Lanka" project Director Daya Karunaratna said that his company is able to supply the required quantities of "Gliricidia wood" which was purchased from the rural farmers with the assistance of "Vidatha Centre" network.