Multi-function weeding machines free of charge to 5000 maize growers

By Ifham Nizam

The Small Scale Agribusiness Participation Programme – SAPP -under the Ministry of Agriculture, yesterday took steps to provide free Multi-function Weeding machines to 5000 maize growers in the Polonnaruwa, Moneragala and Badulla districts.

A Ministry spokesman said that Rs. 418 million has been allocated for this project.

“These multi-purpose machines were offered to reduce the cost of weeding, water pumping, and soil turning, in maize cultivation,” the official added.

Gifting of these multi-purpose tools to the farmers was done yesterday (08) at the Ministry of Agriculture.

Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of State for Rural Affairs Kader Mastan, Secretary of the Ministry Gunadasa Samarasinghe and Director of SAPP Project Dr. Yasantha Mapatuna, participated in the event.

Speaking at the occasion, Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that a programme has been implemented to introduce modern technical equipment to the farmers to reduce their production costs.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe has approved all the Cabinet Papers, presented, for improving the facilities of the farmers and that a large amount of money has been allocated to uplift the country’s agriculture in the current year, he said.

The Minister added: “We will reach self-sufficiency in rice this year. There is no need to import rice again to this country. Also, we can be self-sufficient with many crops, such as Cowpea, Green Gram, Sesame Seeds, Black Gram, and ground nuts.

Minister Amaraweera also said that they are producing 25 percent of the chilies needed this year.