Maize cultivation in Hambantota to be upped to 400 acres

Mahinda Amaraweera Minister of Environment has taken steps to double the cultivation of maize as a demand of the farmers in Hambantota.

According to the Minister, maize is to be cultivated in 400 acres in the Hambantota District, despite the earlier plans to cultivate it in 200 acres.

Accordingly, a programme to provide high-quality maize seeds required for all 400 acres to farmers free of charge commenced last Saturday (26) in Lower Mattala.

Measures have been taken to provide these high-quality maize seeds for cultivation in chenas and home gardens as well as in fallow paddy fields in the Hambantota District.

Accordingly, maize seeds were distributed in 34 acres in the Lower Mattala, 27 acres in the Upper Mattala, 29 acres in the Aluthgamara, 14 acres in the Anguthkolawewa and 14 acres in the Maha Aluthgamara in the Hambantota District under the patronage of the Minister last Saturday (26).

A private company in Anuradhapura has already offered to purchase the entire maize crop grown on these farms under the buyback system.

Arrangements have been made to provide free maize seeds for the cultivation of these 400 acres and also to provide fruit seedlings for home gardening to each of these families free of charge. The Minister distributed 15,000 saplings to the public last Saturday under the Tree Breath Tree Planting Program launched by the Ministry of Environment.