Third agricultural season introduced
by L.S. Ananda WEDAARACHCHI
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K.E. Karunatileka
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The Agriculture Ministry has introduced a third agricultural season
between Yala and Maha to increase productivity in the agriculture sector
of the country, said Secretary Agriculture Ministry K.E. Karunatileka.
He said that there is a two-and-a-half month gap between the
traditional Yala and Maha agricultural seasons. The intervening period
could be used successfully to cultivate essential food items, especially
pulses such as green gram, cowpea, Kurakkan, maize and undu .
The experiment which was conducted in Hambantota, Anuradhapura,
Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and the Mahaveli areas was successful.
Around 7,599 ha were cultivated during the third agricultural season;
6,137 MT of green gram were produced, Karunatileka said. The Secretary
said the Government provided assistance including free fertiliser and
seeds worth Rs. 6.2 million to farmers to launch the third season
cultivation of pulses.
The green gram produced during the third season was valued at Rs.
613.7 million, the Secretary said.
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