Systematic program to purchase big onions from local farmers
Wednesday, 21 May 2014 00:20
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President Mahinda Rajapakse has directed the Minister of Co-operatives and Internal Trade, Johnston Fernando to arrange a systematic program to purchase big onions from local farmers.
The Government has taken a major initiative to make the country self-sufficient in big onion, an important ingredient in Sri Lankan food.
The President was visiting big onion cultivation in Mahasenpura, Thissamaharamaya to review the progress at the farm.
The President who had a mutual discussion with the big onion farmers in the area, instructed Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena to arrange concessionary bank loans for the farmers to develop their cultivations.
He also requested the farmers to use more organic fertiliser for their cultivation.
The Government has launched a comprehensive program to make the country self-sufficient in big onions. Accordingly, the Ministry of Agriculture has taken measures to propagate big onion cultivation to non-traditional areas as well.
Accordingly, the cultivation is now underway in the Hambantota and Moneragala Districts.
The cultivation is to be expanded over 2,000 hectares of lands and a harvest of 50,000 metric tons is to be gathered.
The amount is sufficient for three months consumption in the country.
