Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha participated in an inspection of the abandoned largest Aquaponic technology greenhouse in South Asia.

South Asia's largest Aquaponic technology greenhouse, which was started with an investment over Rs. 2 billion, including a grant of Rs. 100 million under the World Bank's Agriculture Modernization Program, on an 18-acre land area in Kumarakattuwa village in the Arachchikattuwa Divisional Secretary’s Division, has now been abandoned. The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha, who paid special attention to this matter, engaged in an inspection tour there recently.

Through this technology greenhouse, fish are provided with high-protein food, while the wastewater is converted into nitrates through a biological process and released into tanks. The plant root system absorbs the nitrates and other minerals in that water and returns clean water back to the fish farm.

Under this project, cultivation activities were started within a period of 8 months, growing fish and plants. As a project with numerous international quality standards and all compliances, this project produced a monthly output of between 20,000 and 30,000 kilograms. However, in the face of the 2021-2022 economic crisis, obtaining the necessary permits to import seeds and fish feed into the country was delayed by about one and a half years. Production capacity was limited to 10%. Despite operating at high costs, this valuable project had to be abandoned midway due to lack of proper government attention.

The Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation, K.D. Lalkantha, who participated in the inspection of this project, discussed with the relevant parties and mentioned that he would explore the possibility of reactivating this project.