The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has pledged to assist in developing Smart Agriculture in Mahaweli Zones over a request made by Irrigation, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi.
Accordingly, ADB has pledged to provide US$ 8 million to introduce modern technology in the agriculture and livestock field in the Mahaweli Zones.
Minister Wanniarachchi requested ADB to assist financially and to provide new technology to the youth as they are keen on smart agricultural industry during a recent discussion with the ADB officials held at her office on Wednesday (14).
The amount of US$ 8 million provided by the ADB will belong to Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority, under the Mahaweli Water Security Investment Programme which comes under the Irrigation Ministry, and a work plan has been introduced regarding how to spend the money.
Accordingly, US$ 4 million will be utilized for the development of milk production in the Mahaweli regions, US$ 2.5 million for smart agriculture food production such as poly tunnel and drip Irrigation and US$ 1.5 million for poultry farming and freshwater fishing industry respectively.
There are 12,940 milk farmers in the Mahaweli Zones and they produced 54.8 million litres of fresh milk last year. The fresh milk production is expected to be increased up to 70 million litres under this programme.
Under the proposed export directed cultivation programme, 1,300 farming families in Mahaweli regions will be selected, and each family will be directed to cultivate chillies in quarter acre polytunnels provided for each family unit, and steps will be taken to provide the necessary infrastructure.
The Mahaweli Authority states that the egg production is expected to be increased to 100 million this year from 62 million last year. Shortage of poultry food and chicks is a major stumbling block in the industry, and the ministry expects to find positive answers to them by using the funds provided by the ADB.
Ministry Secretary Saman Darshana Pandikorala, Sri Lanka Mahaweli Authority Director General Eng. Sunil Perera and other officials participated.
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