Keeri Samba paddy cultivation, which was cultivated for the first time in Hambantota district Matigathwela area, has been very successful.
To grow keri samba paddy for the first time in 100 acres of Agunakolapalassa Matigathwala area.
A group of farmers worked. This keeri samba cultivation was observed yesterday (23) by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera.
At present, Samba and Nadu rice and paddy have exceeded the national requirement in our country, but there is a shortage of Keeri Samba rice. The reason is that farmers are not motivated to grow Keeri Samba rice in the 2022 season. Due to this, there was a huge shortage of keeri samba in the country.
Because of this, the government took steps to import some other rice as an alternative to Keeri Samba rice.
Keeri Samba is an entirely indigenous paddyvariety. Keeri Samba produced by Batalegada Rice Research Institute called BG-360 is currently the most popular type of rice in our country.
At present, among the rice in our country, the type of rice with the highest demand is Keeri Samba. That’s why the Department of Agriculture says that 80,000 hectares of keeri samba have been planted in this Maha season. A paddy harvest of at least 350,000 metric tons is expected from that cultivation.
The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, who observed the Keeri Samba paddy cultivation in Matigathwala area yesterday (23) afternoon, expressed his views.
Keeri Samba has a high demand in our country. At present, there is plenty of samba and nadu rice as well as paddy in the country. We get a big paddy harvest in this maha season. A large quantity of Keeri Sambat has been cultivated this year. But in order to provide a supply that matches the demand, we need to further expand the cultivation of keeri samba. By the next maha season, we will expand keeri samba cultivation in about 500 hectares of paddy fields in Hambantota district.
Keeri samba was not grown in any season before in Hambantota district. For the first time, 100 acres were cultivated this time. It is very successful. These farmers are very happy. They can get a yield of more than 110 bushels of paddy per acre. The minister also mentioned that the Ministry of Agriculture and the government will provide all possible support to these farmers for the further expansion of keeri samba cultivation.
In Hambantota district, the most cultivated variety was At 362, which has the highest paddy yield. The minister also said that it is a local rice variety introduced by the Ambalantota Rice Research Institute.
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