Rs 410 m to fund food production drive
Ishara MUDUGAMUWA
The Government has allocated Rs 410 million for the Api Wavamu Rata
Nagamu food production program for this year. It is estimated to spend
Rs 1,231 million for this program, an Agriculture Ministry spokesman
said.
The Government has introduced this program with the objective of
increasing local food production and reduce the amount of imported
foods. Under this program, the Agriculture Ministry will train farmers
to use carbonic fertilizer. Under the carbonic fertilizer production and
promotion program, 16,000 metric tons of carbonic fertilizer were
produced in 2010 yala season. it is expected to produce 40,000 metric
tons at the end of this year, he said.
He said as a major function of this program, the production of
essential food varieties has been started by introducing essential food
items and cultivation technologies for farmers. Under this, home gardens
are also promoted.
Under the Api Wavamu Rata Nagamu Program, 26,000 acres of barren
fields will be cultivated before the end of this year, spokesman said.
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