Growing maize in 10,000 hectares in the Mahaweli Zone L commenced on October 2.
President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Irrigation Minister Chamal Rajapaksa and Mahaweli Zones Canals, Settlements and Public Infrastructure Development State Minister Siripala Gamlath participated in the commencement ceremonies in Weli Oya, Ethawetuna Wewa and Nika Wewa in the Mahaweli L Zone.
Over 3,000 acres will be cultivated with maize in the Mahaweli L Zone alone.
The annual demand for maize is around 500,000 metric tonnes. Half of the demand (250,000 MT) is grown locally and the rest is imported at cost of Rs.3000 million. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has proposed to cultivate the maize here to save the foreign exchange spent on import.
State Minister Siripala Gamlath said that 10,000 hectares of maize in 10 Mahaweli Zones will be grown with maize.
Mahaweli lands will be distributed among the farmers under a concessionary leasing system encouraging them to grow maize to meet the demand.
The Mahaweli Authority will provide quality seeds. State and private sector institutions will be encouraged to buy the harvest from the farmers. A kilogram of maize seeds is bought at Rs.90. The import of 16 non-essential crops has been suspended as these can be cultivated here, and maize is among them.
State Minister Siripala Gamlath said that in addition to maize, other food crops will be grown in the Mahaweli Zones.
Mahaweli Authority Director General and Engineer Sunil S. Perera, Mahaweli Agricultural Director Neville Rajapakse, Mahaweli L Zone Residential Business Manager R.B.K.M. Randeniya and Mahaweli L Zone farmers participated.
