The Smart Climate Irrigated Agriculture Project (SCIAP) which is being implemented on foreign funds under the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries was scheduled to end by August this year.
However, the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera requested the government to take steps to continue the SCIAP projects that have been implemented in many difficult districts by this project. Accordingly, the Honorable President Mr. Ranil Wickramasinghe took steps to provide an amount of 25 million USD for the Smart Climate Irrigated Agriculture Project for this year, the minister said yesterday (08).
A review meeting on the next year’s work of the SCIAP Project was held yesterday at the Ministry of Agriculture. The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Mr. Janaka Dharmakirthi and many other officials from the SCIAP project.
The minister who expressed his views here informed that the spending of the 25 million USD allocated for this year should be started immediately. The Minister also informed that more attention should be paid to the reconstructions of the lakes in the respective districts as well as to the provision of new agricultural technical equipment.
It was decided to provide solar-powered water pumps at a subsidized price because farmers in difficult areas have difficulty in getting water for cultivation. Accordingly, it was decided to start programs so that the farmers will have to bear an affordable amount for providing solar powered water pumps and without charging other financial allocations, they can be provided to the farmers at the government’s expense.
Accordingly, it was emphasized in this discussion to continue the implementation of the projects that will be implemented for the coming year in the districts currently covered under the Smart Climate Irrigation Agriculture Project
The minister who further expressed his views here – It is not a small task to provide 25 million USD of government money for the agricultural development of a former country without bringing 20 million dollars a gas ship two years ago. Due to the inability to pay 55 million dollars, the fuel ships that came to our country turned back. The government has given this financial allocation as a result of the increase in the country’s foreign reserves. Therefore, the minister also said that it is the responsibility of the officers to take steps to use this money effectively.
