Self-sufficiency in sugar Govt's aims

Nimal Wijesinghe Anuradhapura Additional district group correspondent

The Government's aim is to produce 50 per cent of sugar requirement of the country by 2013. For this an accelerated programme to popularise sugar cane cultivation will be implemented, said Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Supplementary Crops Development Leela Dissanayake.

The Supplementary Plantation Crops Ministry endeavours to promote the sugar cane cultivation in several areas and also to commission a number of large, medium and small-scale sugar manufacturing factories simultaneously.

In Anuradhapura district under this plan the Divisional Secretariat divisions such as Mihintale, Rambewa, Kahatagasdigiliya, Thirappane, Kekirawa, Palugaswewa, Galenbindunawewa, Medawachchiya, Kebithigollewa and Horowpathana have been identified as highly suitable for sugar cane cultivation, said Anuradhapura Additional District Secretary Anula Indrani speaking at the recently held district agriculture committee meeting at Anuradhapura Kachcheri.

Apart from the Anuradhapura district Bibile and Siyambalanduwa in the Moneragala district have been identified to grow sugar cane under this programme.

A feasibility study on the potentiality of the project is being conducted by the Sugar Cane Research Institute and the Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research and Training Centre, Gannoruwa and the construction of sugar factories will be decided based on the feasibility report.

The Ministry envisages to grow sugar cane in about 30,000 acres under the first stage of the venture in the Anuradhapura district.

The Agriculture Ministry, North Central Provincial Council and the relevant Divisional Secretariat offices will assist in the programme implementation.

A workshop for the Land Officers, Grama Niladaris and Planning Officers in the areas earmarked for sugar cane cultivation with officials of the Sugar Cane Research Institute and Hector Kobbekaduwa Agriculture Research Centre participating at the Supplementary Crops Development Ministry relating to the project, was held on July 8.