The Ministry of Environment has decided to introduce five more new cultivation projects this year under the sojan cultivation system, a traditional Indonesian cultivation method.
Sojan cultivation method is used for effective cultivation in saline lands, swamps as well as paddy lands which can be cultivated but not allowed to drain properly. Especially in such lands slightly higher ridges are prepared and food crops are grown on them.
The Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Ministry of Environment to give priority to the implementation of as many eco-friendly livelihood development projects as possible in the projects being implemented by the Ministry of Environment as the present Government has decided to give priority to the livelihood development of the people in the implementation of development projects by 2022.
These projects are implemented by the Ministry of Environment with financial assistance and the public is entrusted with the care and maintenance of these projects.
A discussion was held at the Ministry of Environment recently (04) on how to give priority in allocating funds for projects allocated for the Central Environmental Authority. Minister of Environment Mahinda Amaraweera expressed these views.
The Minister instructed the officials present at the discussion to initiate five or more cultivation projects under the sojan system for the cultivation of food crops in fallow paddy lands which have not been cultivated so far in the year 2022.
At present there are 20,917 acres of barren paddy lands in our country which cannot be used for agriculture. Also, 46,325 acres of fallow paddy lands can be cultivated. Most of the fallow paddy lands which cannot be cultivated are located in the Western Province. That area is 5903 acres. Also, about 50 percent of the fallow paddy lands that can be cultivated are in the Western Province. . It is 18,461.35 acres.
The relevant statistics were obtained by the Agrarian Development Department, the Minister said. The President also instructed all Ministries to take steps this year to implement as many projects as possible under the Environmental Conservation Act to increase the food production of the country as well as the livelihood development of the people.
Thursday, January 6, 2022 – 12:26