Agriculture revived in Kilinochchi

By Dhaneshi Yatawara

The last train to Kilinochchi before it resumed operations on September 14 was on January 19 1985. It was on that fateful day that the LTTE terrorists bombed the Yal Devi train at Kokavil killing 34 people and completely putting a halt to the North-South rail transportation.The North-South railway line was extended up to Kilinochchi on September 14, 2013.

Today trains operate daily to Kilinochchi after the total closure of the railway line 23 years ago. The Yal Devi, the 'Deyata Kirula' intercity train which traveled only up to Medawachchiya earlier now operates to Kilinochchi.

Officers of the 57 Division of the Sri Lanka Army captured Kilinochchi on January 2, 2009.The town has been given a complete face-lift today with shops and supermarkets being set up.Abandoned lands have come under the plough once again.

Agriculture was a developed sector in the Northern Province, in terms of technology yield per hector and management before 1983.

Kilinochchi accounted for a major share of the agricultural output.The Northern province was a major supplier of subsidiary food crops such as onion, chilli, banana and vegetables to the South.

Around 60 percent of the population in the North is engaged in crop farming and over 45 percent of the labour force directly depends on agriculture for their livelihood, according to statistics. The Northern agriculture sector has contributed 75 percent of the local red onion demand, 30 percent of dry chillie and legume demand. The cash crops cultivation such as chilli , banana and grapes has declined drastically due to poor market access, low maintenance and abandonment of productive land with farmers' displacement. This has made farming a non profitable venture.

The Kilinochchi district comes under the Dry Zone. The district receives a low rainfall throughout the year. Annual rainfall in the Eastern half of the District varies from 1250 - 1500 mm while that of Western half of the District is comparatively low ranging from 1000 - 1250 mm. The area experiences heavy rains from October to January, during the North East monsoonal season. Province has 11 major and 54 minor tanks providing irrigation to low land area of 32,178 ha and 9,700 ha. The extent of cultivation depends on the rainfall pattern and its intensity.

"Paddy cultivations is in full swing during the maha season," said Deputy Director of the Kilinochchi Regional Agriculture Research Centre of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Jameson Arasakesary,.

Developing irrigation canals in Kilinochchi

Paddy cultivation in Kilinochchi

" The demand for agricultural products is on the rise with a stable market being created in Kilinochchi.," Dr. Arasakesary said. According to him, due to the market demand farmers are keen to increase their cultivation to get a better price for their produce.. "In the past farmers cultivated mostly red rice varieties but now the demand has shifted to white rice with businessmen coming from other parts of the country.

"There is no problem with the rice cultivation except the problem of certain weed types that destroyes cultivation," he explained. This problem isprominent in the Thunukkai and Kilinochchi areas.

According to research by the centre weeds have shown resistance to weedicides used ent by farmers. "So now we are rying different varieties of weedicides to find an effective one and we

have informed this to the Registrar of Pesticides," Dr. Arasakesary said.

The next step of the on- going researches in Kilinochchi is to diversify crops enabling the farmers to use off seasons to cultivate traditional varieties. "We did soil identification tests and

have identified what kind of crops with a good commercial value can be grown in paddy lands during the off season using the moisture of the

soil," explained Dr. Arasakesary. According to him the most common crops are onions, chillies, brinjals and tomatoes.

The Agriculture Research Centre will seek the assistance of the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid-Tropics (ICRISAT) based in Hyderabad in India in identifying types of legumes that would suit the off season climate of Kilinochchi.

Supported by research and studies farmers in Kilinochchi are now producing quality products. They need to expand their cultivation.

The first agricultural exhibition in the Northern Province with all stakeholders of the Agri-business chain was held from July 26 to 28 at Central College grounds in Kilinochchi.

The AgBiz-North exhibition is organised by the National Agri Business Council with Practical Action endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture. The objective of the exhibition is to create a platform for farmers in the North to use modern technology in agriculture to enhance production.

Northern Governor G.A. Chandrasiri, Security Forces - Killinochchi Head Quarters, Government Agent - Killinochchi and all the other government officials of the Northern Province. Ayantha Panditharatne, who is venturing in to the new vegetable and fruits market in Kilinochchi said that the farmers are very enthusiastic in directly dealing with the businessmen. An entrepreneuer who retired from nearly 20 years of service in the Garment industry, Panditharatne said that there is huge scope for agricultural growth and economic revival in Kilinochchi.

"There is a great demand in hotels for for vegetables and fruits grown in Kilinochchi. In order to diversify their cuisine the hoteliers also need non traditional vegetable and fruit arieties," he added.

Panditharatne went to Kilinochchi and was able to meet several farmers the following day.

Panditharatne luckily had a place in Kilinochchi to meet several farmers - a special building constructed by the soldiers of the Kilinochchi Security Forces Headquarters named 'Harmony Centre' a recreation place for public. "The Sri Lanka Army assisted me a lot to do the coordination with the farmer communities and I managed to establish solid contacts with several farmers specially from a place called athnapuram in Kilinochchi. I managed to recruit few local people to coordinate my work there in ilinochchi. And I've set up a place close to the bus stand to collect the

vegetables I buy from the farmers, explained Panditharatne. "I specifically selected this place giving a thought to the convenience of the farmers.

These farmers even bring in small quantities. But collectively I get the required amount and initially I have limited the varieties to tomatoes and brinjals," said Panditharatne.

According to Panditharatne the train service is the easiest mode of transportation.

"The freight charges are the biggest challenge we face . Finding people to transport the produce from Kilinochchi is a not possible. If transportation cost could be reduced it will help the businesses community," said Panditharatne. Panditharatne has made arrangements for the farmers to receive payments through the Regional Development bank within 24 hours of purchase which is ital to maintain the supply chain.