All cultivatable land in Matara District to be fully harnessed: Mahinda Yapa
Wednesday, 9 April 2014 00:00
-
- {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By P.D. De Silva
“All cultivatable land in the Matara District should be brought under some form of cultivation this year in preparation for the National Agricultural Week which is to be held in Thelijjawila from 9 to 14 September,” said Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena addressing divisional secretaries, agricultural development officers and winners of the Divi Neguma home garden contest at the Matara District Secretariat auditorium yesterday (8).
“I am grateful to all those who received awards today for their contribution to the Divi Neguma home gardening project. There is a large extent of land which is not cultivated in our District. I have instructed all the heads of departments under my Ministry to advice and assist you to help the owners of these lands to bring them under some viable and profitable cultivation. We are planning to grow the much talked of Wallapatta at a commercial level in the Matara district. Of the 18 varieties of Wallapatta only two are of economic value. Our people don’t know this and they cut down every tree they see.”
“As it is the famer that knows what is best for him, we expect the farmers’ societies to inform us of what major or minor irrigation work that should take precedence in their areas, what varieties of paddy, vegetable or fruit which could be grown on their land and any other problems they encounter. So I expect all of you to join together and cultivate every cultivatable inch of land in the district by end October this year,” he concluded.
Wedage Sujeewa Deepani’s home garden in Uninduwela Grama Niladhari Division, Malimboda was selected the best home garden cultivated under the Divi Neguma Home Gardening program. D.D. Danile of Panatiyana East in Welipitiya won second place while R.H. Samanlatha of Hikkoda Akuressa was third.
