USD 30 Million From World Bank For Extension Of agriculture Sector Modernization Project
Shakila Ifham
March 17, 2023
The World Bank has agreed to extend aid to the agriculture sector modernization project here meant to introduce new technology to the sector for another 18 months with USD 30 million in funding, a senior Agriculture Ministry official said.
Team leader of the World Bank delegation John Kayser, agronomist Mrs. Karishma Wash and senior operations officer Asela Dissanayake have discussed the project with the Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera.
Minister requested the World Bank delegation to provide further assistance to the project as the agricultural sector modernization project is currently playing a big role. Accordingly, a World Bank delegation agreed to provide an amount of USD 30 million to maintain this project for another 18 months from May of this year.
Under this, agricultural sector modernization model villages will be started in all 25 districts in the country targeting different crops. Also, a sour banana model village in Jaffna aimed at export, and two Cavendish banana projects aimed at export in Batticaloa and Sevanagala areas are to be started. The Agriculture Sector Modernization Project has already planned to start these activities in May.
Like the Rajangana Sour Banana project, another cultivation project has been planned targeting Embilipitiya and Hambantota areas. The minister emphasized in this discussion that while introducing new technology to agriculture, obtaining more yield from minimum land area, planting crops according to international standards, producing according to world market standards and familiarizing farmers with new technology, this project is already very successful.
Team leader of the World Bank delegation John Kayser, expressing his opinion, also emphasized that he will give his maximum support to increase the agricultural production by using modern technology instead of traditional agriculture in Sri Lanka.
Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Gunadasa Samarasinghe, Director of the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project Dr. Rohan Wijekoon and others also participated in the discussion.
Global News