The Agriculture Ministry will launch a Waga Sangramaya program (food drive) to herald a new era in the agricultural sector aiming to cultivate 800,000 hectares of land.
A Waga Sangramaya week (food drive) will be held from October 6 to 13 islandwide to create awareness among the people on this giant leap. Under the Waga Sangramaya program, the entire country will undergo a rapid agriculture revolution with effect from October by making use of all underutilized lands for cultivation purposes, State Minister of Agriculture Wasantha Aluwihare told the Sunday Observer yesterday.
The main purpose of this national drive launched on the directive of President Maithripala Sirisena is to make use of all abandoned cultivable lands in the country.
The Ministry would seek the contribution of all ministries to make this national endeavour a success, he said.
The State Minister said it has also been proposed to conduct a ‘Wapmagul festival’ in connection to this program at Dambulla area. The final decision on the date and venue of the festival will be decided at a discussion to be held on September 22. At present, Hurulu Wewa area in Dambulla has been proposed to conduct this festival.
During the Waga Sangramaya week from October 6 to 13, steps will also be taken to expedite the development works launched by the affiliated institutions of the Agriculture Ministry. The President has highlighted the need to make the best use of the agricultural lands under this program. Home garden projects will also be launched at each Grama Niladari division level.
Parallel to the Waga Sangramaya week, the progress of the National Food Production drive will be evaluated and a seed production program will also be launched in connection to this national drive, he said. At present, a lot of food crops are imported.
The Waga Sangramaya program hopes to reduce import of these food crops by cultivating it locally, he said.