Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has guaranteed maize farmers in Anuradhapura that the Government would buy the maize harvest of Rajarata farmers at Rs.160 or more.
He said all agro-chemical necessities including Urea fertilizer would be provided in adequate stocks for boosting the maize cultivation without delay.
This was revealed at a meeting held via zoom technology at which Anuradhapura Government Agent Janaka Jayasundara, Agriculture Secretary Rohana Pushpakumara, Provincial Agriculture Deputy Director Gayani Rathnayake, Inter Provincial Deputy Agriculture Director Mala Ramyalatha, Assistant Fertilizer Director Bandula Kumara and Agricultural and Agrarian Development Executive Officials participated.
Anuradhapura Government Agent Janaka Jayasundara said that if the prevailing fertilizer weedicides and fuel problems are solved, Anuradhapura maize farmers would be able to produce at least 40,000 metric tons maize duting the 2022/23 Maha Season.
Maize cultivation in the Anuradhapura District during the 2000/21 Yala season was 43,000 metric tons. During the 2021 Yala season the maize harvest saw a drastic drop due to the ban on chemical fertilizer and farmers abandoning maize cultivation.
The most important factor in gaining an unprecedented yield is the availability of agricultural prerequisites, mainly seeds, Urea, weedicides in time and in adequate supplies and above all, guaranteeing a reasonable high price for maize in view of the prevailing economic crisis.
A farmer organisation representative said that due to acute scarcity of fertilizer and poor marketing faculties etc. thousands of maize farmers have totally given up maize cultivation and urged the Government to stimulate such groups under a maize cultivation promotion drive.
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