http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=Towards_prosperity_Northern_agricultural_revival_20130108_03

Towards prosperity - Northern agricultural revival

From time immemorial Sri Lanka's economy has been agriculture based. It has been the main force of economic development. Apart from tea, coconut and rubber, the paddy cultivation was the mainly focused crop among the peasant community. During the era of ancient kings, Sri Lanka was self-sufficient in rice production. Annual monsoons regularly filled the tanks and reservoirs that ensured regular irrigation to the paddy fields

Prior to the LTTE reign of terror the people of the North and East were extensively engaged in agriculture. Northern produce had a constant and sought after market in the South. Southern products were very popular in the peninsula. But LTTE terrorism closed the doors of harmony that had prevailed throughout history. The LTTE obstructed the exchange of goods and services between North and South which eventually led to the decline of trade and exchange between the two regions.

During the conflict agricultural land were extensively laden with land mines and IEDs by the terrorists. Farmers were denied access to their lands and fertile lands were forcefully taken over by the terrorists. Farmers who defied were cold bloodedly massacred. Government welfare provisions like fertiliser subsidies were shamelessly taken away by he terrorists. The once lush agricultural lands were turned into barren wasteland.

The atrocities of the LTTE terrorists culminated when they denied water to the Eastern farm lands by cutting off irrigation from Mavil Aru tank. Thus began the beginning of the end of the LTTE.

Under the post war development programme through the government's 'Northern Spring' and 'Eastern Reawakening' programmes, a vast amount of funds were injected into the agricultural revival of the North and Eastern regions. The people are now enjoying the dividends peace.

Some of the state sponsored facilities are as follows.

Year 2009

• No. of farm machineries and equipments distributed among re-settled families: 2283
• Seeds (70 metric tones) distributed to cultivate abandoned lands.
• Land taken under the paddy cultivation (26905 hectares)
• Total expenditure of all projects Rs. 175.97 million

Year 2010

• No. of farm machineries and equipments distributed among re-settled families: 7753
• 925 MT of seeds distributed to cultivate abandoned lands.
• 35168 hectares taken under the paddy cultivation
• Total expenditure of all projects Rs. 65.74 million

Year 2011

• National Farmers' week celebrated in Vavuniya
• No. of farm machineries and equipments distributed among re-settled families: 16962
• 270 MT of seeds distributed to cultivate abandoned lands.
• 93599 hectares taken under paddy cultivation
• Total expenditure of all projects Rs. 97.75 million

Year 2012

• No. of farm machineries and equipments distributed among re-settled families: 6007
• Seven private plant nurserymen involved in 100000 Drumstick seeds production
• 155 metric tones of seeds distributed to cultivate abandoned lands.
• 95318 hectares taken under the paddy cultivation
• Total expenditure of all projects Rs. 126.65 million