In a bid to support the local agriculture sector Geographical information System (GIS) devices were introduced to farmers Cabinet Minister of Plantations and Export Agriculture Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said at Sethsiripaya. Pathirana thanked International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for funding this project which would help towards createing an export-led agricultural sector.
The project aims to increase the use of GIS and has an inclusive rural financing scheme through major commercial banks.
The total project cost will be US$ 65.4 million over a six-year period, of which IFAD will provide an equivalent to USD 25.76 million. Expenditure categories for IFAD funding includes society strength production support for tea and rubber plantation, equipment and materials, goods, services and inputs Capital grants, Salaries, allowances, and operational costs.
The Project area would be located in eight neighboring districts in central and southern Sri Lanka, including Galle (tea), Matara (tea), Ratnapura (tea and rubber processing), Badulla (tea), Kandy (tea), Nuwara Eliya (tea), Moneragala (rubber) and Ampara (rubber). These districts have been selected based on their poverty incidence, production of tea and potential for rubber. A total of 144,000 people, or 32,000 households, would benefit from the Project.
Dr. Pathirana said that President and Prime Minister are not only looking at the traditional exports of tea and rubber but also to coconuts and spices.
Secretary State Ministry of Tea Industries Development Anuradha Wijekoon said that as a Sri Lankan he was ashamed to admit that the usage of fertilizer exceeded the recommended amount. He said GIS would help administrators distribute fertilizer more efficiently. Tea Industry State Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said that government had given the utmost focus to agriculture and the farmer. He called on IFAD to work on rainwater harvesting for the tea plantation sector as well. Dr. Tarek Kotb cited IFAD as the only multilateral agency focusing on rural upliftment said that the organization acts as a catalyst for profitable investment in rural areas. IFAD has been involved in projects in Sri Lanka impacting 615,000 households with an estimated impact of 3 million people. The organization has been involved in projects totaling USD 590 million with USD 338 million coming from IFAD.
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