Over 1,700 hA in Mahaweli areas on long-term lease to boost commercial agriculture

The Government has decided to give on long-term lease 1,750 hectares in the Mahaweli areas for commercial agriculture ventures to boost national food security and exports. 

A proposal to this effect presented by the Irrigation Minister was approved by the Cabinet of Ministers at a meeting yesterday. 

The Government said identified land will be leased to selected investors on a long-term lease basis following the formal procedure for the implementation of national food and nutrition security and export-oriented commercial agricultural projects.

The initiative is aimed at encouraging investors to grow essential food crops that can be grown locally in order to minimise the negative impact on the economy caused by the outflow of foreign exchange for food imports. 

The Government said one of the main objectives of the Saubhagya National Food Production Promotion Policy is to increase milk production and local production of animal feed. 

Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the proposal presented by Minister of Irrigation to provide about 1,750 hectares of lands in the Mahaweli areas to selected investors on a long-term lease basis following the formal procedure for the implementation of national food and nutrition security and export-oriented commercial agricultural projects.