Agro methods to be preserved

Agriculture, Agrarian Services Development, Minor Irrigation, Industry and Environment Minister of the Western Provincial Council Udaya Gammanpila has launched a program to document and preserve Sri Lanka's traditional methods of agriculture.

The program is being implemented under the Minister's "Non-toxic Food" policy, a media release from the Ministry said.

Following the introduction of the green revolution and new agricultural technology from the '60s, the traditional methods of farming disappeared gradually. As such the program to preserve and document has been launched in coordination with the Western province agricultural authorities. The release said that consultations and seminars for the older generation of farmers are being held as part of the new program. Seminars and workshops for farmers' representatives, environmentalists and intellectuals are also conducted.

Four workshops will be held starting from October 17 at the Sri Lanka Foundation Institute. Agriculture Minister, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardene, will be the chief guest on the first day. Steps will be taken to re-introduce the traditional methods of farming after the documentation.