Thursday, March 22, 2012

Mannar 'rice bowl' revived after 30 years: Mannar to become a rice exporting zone

Nimal WIJESINGHE-Anuradhapura Additional District Group Corr

The Economic Development Ministry envisages to promote the Mannar district's paddy cultivation zone as a rice exporting zone under the patronage of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

For the realization of this agenda, top priority is being given for scientific water management and strengthening the rice milling capacity in the region while offering more facilities to the farmer community with regard to livelihood empowerment.

The paddy cultivation in the Mannar district which was once called the country's rice bowl is being revived to its previous prestigious position after nearly 33 years.

Mannar District Residential Irrigation Engineer H. M. A. Nelugolla told the Daily News that as a result of the accelerated irrigation development plan implemented during the last two years, the farmers in the Mannar district are being blessed with a huge paddy harvest of around 80,000 metric tons during the ongoing Maha cultivation season.Nelugolla added that for the rehabilitation of the Giant Tank and its irrigation canal system including the repairing of the cascade, the Economic Development Ministry has allocated Rs 525 million.

"Under Giant Tank alone, 30,000 acres of paddy has been grown in the Maha cultivation season.

We have been able to restore about 80 kilometres of the canal network in addition to the 10 main canals which were in a dilapidated condition.

"The majority of the internally displaced families residing in the Chettikulam refugee camp have returned to Mannar to take up cultivation," Nelugolla said.

http://www.dailynews.lk/2012/03/22/news20.asp

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