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Qatar Charity Institution has taken steps to provide financial donations for provide fertilizer required by 3000 farmers who grow vegetables and other crops except paddy in three districts during Maha season. Under that, arrangements have been made to provide fertilizer worth Rs. 20,000 to one farmer.
A discussion regarding this matter was held yesterday evening (10) under the chairmanship of Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera Hon. Minister of Agriculture and Mr. Mahmoud Abu Khalifa, Country Director of Qatar Charity also participated in the event. Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and other officials also participated in this discussion.
Although the necessary financial and material concessions were given to the farmers who cultivate paddy in several cropping seasons, it was not possible to arrange a considerable level of concessions for the farmers who cultivate vegetables and other crops. Therefore, 3000 farmers who grow vegetables and other crops in three districts will be selected and given a stock of fertilizer worth Rs. 20,000 each, based on the assistance provided by Qatar Charity Institution under this program.
This scheme is implemented for farmers who cultivate vegetables and other crops in Kurunegala, Monaragala and Matale districts with less than one hectare of land. Qatar Charity Institution has taken steps to select especially low-income farmers for this purpose.
Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera Hon. Minister of Agriculture who expressed his views in here emphasized that the farmers who grow maize and chilies as well as vegetables will get some relief through this donation, and the government has given a lot of concessions to the farmers for paddy cultivation in the past. As a result, rice production in the country increased. Although some parties have presented facts that the price of a kilo of rice will increase up to Rs. 500, The Minister has stated that the price of rice fell from Rs. 280 to Rs. 130.
The Minister has mentioned that the vegetable crops in the country have been greatly affected due to the recent drought and the current rains, so there is a possibility of a severe shortage of vegetables in the coming period as well as an increase in the price of vegetables and also mentioned that appreciates the offer of Qatar Charity Institution to provide relief for vegetable farmers.
