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Needs of Muttur farmers referred to by MP

Trincomalee correspondent

At the inauguration of the Muttur seed cleaning centre at Barathipuram Kiliveddy the National List MP K. Thurairatnasingham (TULF) referred to the urgent needs of Muttur farmers who have been badly affected by the war. It is time for the Non Governmental Organisations and the respective government departments to launch projects assist these farmers and make this district once again the granary of the East.

Secretary, Provincial Ministry of Lands, Agriculture and Livestock Development R. Thiyagalingam said Muttur's farmers should be helped to improve their status from substance level farmer to commercial level farmers. They should be provided with quality seed paddy to increase their yield.

He said about 12,000 farmer families in Muttur area had been displaced due to the war, their houses destroyed and they sought refuge in camps. They should be helped to rebuild their economy.

Deputy Director, Provincial Department of Agriculture K. Subramaniam said of the 700,000 hectares of paddy land in the country 400,000 hectares of land are in the North East. If the farmers in the North East are provided with latest facilities and techniques they could produce quality paddy in quantity.

Team leader Integrated Food Security Programme and German Technical Cooperation Dr. Dedo Geinetz said the seed cleaning centre has been established at a cost of Rs. 2.5 m.

The cleaner imported from Germany cost Rs. 1.65m and the Muttur MPCS has invested Rs. 800,000 for the building. In addition the IFSP had made available Rs. 800,000 as initial investment for starting seed paddy cultivation by farmers.

The seed paddy cleaning centre is open for all members from the Sinhala, Tamil and Muslim communities. The seed cleaning centre has been located in the middle of the rice growing areas of Muttur and Ichilampattai and Seruwila divisions.

District Secretary Trincomalee District N.P.K. Nelumdeniya, Divisional Secretary, Verugal S. Singarayar, Divisional Secretary, Muttur A. Nadarajah, Asst. Director of Agriculture S. Siva Kumar, Deputy Chief Secretary, Planning V.S. Swaminathan and several others also spoke.

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