Govt allocates US$ 25 Mn for next year’s Smart Climate Agri Project
President Wickramesinghe has taken steps to allocate US$ 25 million for the Smart Climate Irrigated Agriculture Project for next year, Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said on Wednesday (8).
The Smart Climate Irrigated Agriculture Project (SCIAP) which is being implemented on foreign funds under the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry was scheduled to end by August this year.
A review meeting on the next year’s work of the SCIAP was held at the Agriculture Ministry on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Agriculture Secretary Janaka Dharmakirthi and many other officials from the SCIAP.
The Minister also informed that more attention should be paid to the reconstructions of the lakes in the respective districts as well as to the provision of new agricultural technical equipment.
It was decided to provide solar-powered water pumps at a subsidized price because farmers in difficult areas have difficulty in getting water for cultivation. Accordingly, it was decided to start programmes, so that the farmers will have to bear an affordable amount for providing solar powered water pumps and without charging other financial allocations, they can be provided to the farmers at the Government’s expense.
It was emphasised in this discussion to continue the implementation of the projects that will be implemented for the coming year in the districts currently covered under the Smart Climate Irrigation Agriculture Project.
The Minister also said: “It is not a small task to provide US$ 25 million of Government funds for the agricultural development of a former country without bringing US$ 20 million a gas ship two years ago. Due to the inability to pay US$ 55 million, the fuel ships that came to our country turned back. The Government has given this financial allocation as a result of the increase in the country’s foreign reserves”.
The Minister stressed that it is the responsibility of the officers to take steps to use this money effectively.
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