|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Friday, 28 November 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
by Irangika Range The Micro Irrigation System and Green Houses, the most modern irrigation technologies in the world, have been introduced to the Sri Lankan farmers to alleviate poverty and improve their living standards. This high tech integrated agriculture project is being undertaken by Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, India, with the best known technology for irrigation and water management, perfected to suit small and marginal farmers in tropical and subtropical conditions. Vice President (Export and Technical Services) of Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd, L. H. Sharma said the Micro Irrigation Systems is a scientific method of irrigation carrying the desired water and nutrients direct to the root zone of the plant, based on careful study of all the relevant factors like land topography, soil, water, crop and agro-climatic conditions. The micro irrigation system is a very suitable and scientific system. It has recorded an increase in yield up to 230% It saves water, and assures a consistent in healthier growth and fast maturity which results in higher and faster returns on investment. Sharma said that the Jain Irrigation System supplies, installs and commissions the Green Houses. The selected elite plants and daughter suckers process consists of five important steps such as initiation, multiplication, shooting and rooting and primary hardening in green houses and secondary hardening in shade houses. He said they have planned to provide coconut, cashew, vegetables, mangoes, banana and papaw to 600 farmers in the Badulla District, to cultivate under the micro irrigation system and green houses project. The Export Associations' President Sarath De Silva has been given the task of coordinating between the farmers and the company. The project provides many benefits to the farmers such as an improved yield qualitatively and quantitatively and also saving on the cost of water and fertilizers, pesticides and insecticides, de-weeding and labour. Fruits and vegetable growers and the Exporters Association has undertaken to purchase the produce at reasonable prices for export. He said, they will also help farmers to develop High Tech Agriculture Farms by imparting, training and providing technical services and at the same time assuring to buy-back specific crops at agreed prices. This is a step towards the integrated High-Tech Agricultural Development. Member of Parliament for Badulla Upali Samaraweera took the initiative to start this novel and model Uvaparanagama Peoples Export Production Village mega-project through the Sri Lanka Export Development Board which was finally approved by the Cabinet. Minister of Rural Economy and Deputy Minister of Finance, Bandula Gunawardena, Minister of Enterprises Development, Industrial Policy and Investment Promotion, Prof. G. L. Peiris and the Chairman of the EDB have seen this project coming through to this stage. The project is financed by the Line of Credit from the Government of India which provides US$ 940,200 and the Government of Sri Lanka provides Rs. 30 million. The agreement for the project has been already signed between the Government and the Company. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
