The Cabinet of Ministers approved three proposals made by Agriculture Minister Chamal Rajapaksa to provide facilities for farmers for upcoming Yala cultivation season, Co-cabinet Spokesman Information and Communication Minister Dr Bandula Gunawardena said.
The Minister made this observation at the weekly Cabinet Media Briefing held yesterday at the Government Information Department.
Accordingly, Cabinet approval has been granted to allocate Rs 10 billion for the importation of 150,000 metric tons of furtilizer in order to cultivate 523,500 hectares of land during the Yala cultivation season.
It is also expected to distribute urea, super phosphate and potash furtilizer from May 23 onwards. The Cabinet also granted approval to provide seeds free of charge.
The Minister said the People's Bank has taken measures to introduce a special loan scheme named 'Aswenna' enabling farmers to get loans up to Rs 3 million at a concessionary rate. This facility would come into effect from next week.
Cabinet approval has also been granted to establish 200 villages to produce export oriented agricultural products and also to open 50 retail outlets island-wide in order to promote local agricultural products.
Decision has also been taken to provide loan facilities for small and medium scale rice-mill owners and also provide assistance to reopen closed rice-mills.
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