ADB grants US$ 10 Mn to assist Mahaweli farmers through Smart Agriculture – Minister

Irrigation, Forestry and Forest Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said that the next revolution of President Ranil Wickremesinghe is to prepare the farmers for the upliftment of agriculture based on modern technology.

She pointed out that the time has come for farmers to put an end to the traditional and outdated agriculture and adapt to modern technology-based smart agriculture.

Minister Wanniarachchi also mentioned that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has given US$ 10 million to develop the livelihood of the Mahaweli farmers through Smart Agriculture on her request and said that it is a victory for these farmers.

Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi said this at the ceremony of awarding Smart Agriculture Packages to farmers of Mahaweli, Walawa Special Area of Ratnapura on Sunday (28).

The Minister who spoke at the event held at the Embilipitiya Mahaweli Residential Business Management Office Auditorium, said that it is important not to subsidize the upliftment of the people, but to give them strength to stand up independently.

According to a request made by Irrigation, Wildlife and Forestry Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Ratnapura has been awarded with US$ 10 million in funds provided by the Asian Development Bank to promote smart agriculture based on sustainable agriculture for the livelihood development of the people of the Mahaweli region.

At a function held at the Embilipitiya Mahaweli Residential Business Manager Office Auditorium led by Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Smart Technology Kits were handed over. The value of one set of smart technology equipment is five hundred thousand rupees and 100 sets of such items were symbolically handed over to 100 farming families in Embilipitiya Chandrika Weva Mahaweli division.

Thus, measures have been taken to donate smart technology equipment sets to 465 Mahaweli farming families in the Ratnapura district.

Measures have also been taken to distribute 20,000 high-quality chicks for increasing egg production in the Mahaweli regions of Ratnapura district. Accordingly, 50 high quality chickens were symbolically handed over to 41 selected beneficiaries who are currently preparing to run Poultry Farms in Walawa Chandrika Wewa Mahaweli Division.

Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority DG Mahendra Abeywardena, Senior Advisor to Minister Ivan Silva, Mahaweli Authority Director Varun, Walawa Residential Business Manager Eng. Sujeewa Gunasekara and others participated.

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