Governor Charles wants bacteria contaminated seed potatoes supplied to Jaffna farmers probed

Governor of the Northern Province, P.S.M. Charles said, during the Jaffna District Development Committee meeting on Thursday (28), an investigation should be carried out regarding the imported seed potatoes under the Agricultural Modernization Programme.

The meeting was held under the leadership of the Co-Chairmen of Jaffna District Development Committee, Minister Douglas Devananda, Governor Charles, and District Government Agent A. Sivabalasundaran.

The risk of dengue in the Jaffna district, problems faced by fishermen, development projects and problems faced by the public in the district were discussed during the meeting.

Charles asked the Northern Provincial Deputy Director of Agricultural Modernisation Programme about the outbreak of a bacterial infection in imported seed potatoes supplied to farmers of the district.

The Governor asked how the seed tubers had been brought without any quality certificate, the cost of destroying them, and alternative measures for the affected farmers.Charles said since there may have been frauds in the import of seed potatoes, detailed investigations should be carried out. Minister Devananda also agreed to this.

Meanwhile, the members of Parliament who attended the meeting said that they have not yet received information on the proposed 25,000-unit housing projects in the Northern Province. The Governor agreed to organize a special meeting soon on this.

The problems faced by fishermen of the Jaffna district were examined. It was also discussed that the local fishermen are suffering due to the encroachments of the Indian fishermen. Minister Devananda told the officials that the penalty money paid to those involved in illegal fishing should be used for the welfare of the fishermen.Minister Devananda also informed the members that the President will visit the North on 04 January.