SAPP to provide free fertilizer for Maha maize cultivation
The Small-Scale Agricultural Partnership Programme (SAPP) under the Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry has started a project to cultivate 40,000 acres of maize in five districts this Maha Season.
Accordingly, this project has been implemented in the five districts of Anuradhapura, Hambantota, Badulla, Monaragala, Ampara and the number of farmers contributing to it is 23,000.
The distribution of 8,000 metric tons of Urea fertilizer for maize cultivation started last Friday (10) at Suriyawewa in Hambantota district and the distribution of the fertilizer was presided over by Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera.
In addition to providing free Urea fertilizer for the cultivation of 40,000 acres of maize, it has been decided to provide TSP and MOP free of charge to these farmers and to provide financial allocations for the initial costs of land preparation without recovery, the Minister said. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has provided financial allocations as credit support for this programme.
Anuradhapura district has the largest number of acres under the Maize Cultivation Project. That amount is 20,000 acres. The Minister also mentioned that the cultivated area in Hambantota district is 5,000 acres.
The Minister said- “It was decided to restart maize cultivation in Hambantota district. Although maize was cultivated before, they were used as baby corn. But the cultivation of maize for animal feed will be started in 5,000 acres this time. The aim is to increase this amount further next year”.
These activities have been started under the Small-Scale Agri Entrepreneurship Programme. The Minister also said that all the necessary facilities such as seeds, fertilizers, land preparation money etc. will be provided to these farmers.
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