Northern farmers provided know-how in modern methods under Divi Neguma

Dharma SRI ABEYRATNE

The Economic Development Ministry has set up a farmer training institute in Kanagarayankulum named Divi Neguma Training Centre with a view to arming farmers with modern technology, methods and knowledge of present day farming.

Livestock Development Officer of the Divi Neguma Training Centre K Janaki said the Centre was established to train farmers in Vavuniya and surrounding districts.

Accordingly, the training centre conducts training programmes related to the agriculture and livestock sectors as well for farmers in several districts, especially from Vavuniya, Killinochchi and Mullaitivu. Besides, the training centre carries out demonstrations on cattle, goat and poultry farming. Through these demonstrations, farmers are imparted knowledge and the latest know-how in animal husbandry.

“The Centre maintains a pollination lab where the latest technology is widely used for the advancement of farming industry,” Janaki said.

She added irrigation systems, such as, sprinkle and drip irrigation systems are also displayed and demonstrated at the centre.

Plants produced by the nursery are sold at very reasonable prices through a plants and seeds selling outlet at the training centre. Fruit plants, such as, mangoes, coconuts, cashew, jack, bread fruit and various other plants and seeds of vegetables, flowers are sold at the sales outlet, “she added.

The Divi Neguma Training Centre fulfils a long term requirement of the farming community since the farmers in the area have not reached the latest technology and know-how of farming owing to the three decade long conflict. Hence, farmers in the area are likely to benefit immensely from this project, an official of Government Information Department said during a visit to the Divi Neguma Training Centre, Kanagarayankulum organised by the Government Information Department.