President to kick off National Food Production Battle today

• 6-12 October declared National Food Production Week 

The National Food Production Battle, implemented under the guidance of President Maithripala Sirisena, will begin today with the aim of taking forward the national food production program, challenged by the climate changes, with a new strength continuously in a sustainable manner to revive the agricultural sector of the country.

The inauguration of this program will be marked by the ‘National Wap Magul Ceremony’ under the patronage of President Sirisena at 8.30 a.m. near the Thibbotuwawa Tank, Kekirava, and it is expected to launch many programs across the country while declaring 6-12 October National Food Production week. 

Today, which is the first day of the Food Production Week campaign, has been designated Farmers’ Day and many programs, including the distribution of seed paddy to farmers and rehabilitation of 2,000 acres of coconut lands and  the  launch of the Mahaweli Agri Project Plan for 2017/18.

Additional events are implementation of special programs for the development of home gardening, presentation of 2,500 title deeds to the  Mahaweli  farming community, tree planting programs, seminars and training programs regarding new agri-technology and the distribution of equipment to promote the production of organic fertiliser will be implemented throughout the country.

Today will be Students’ Day and the inauguration ceremony of this will be held at the Siyane National School, Gampaha under the patronage of the Minister of Education. The Ministry of Education stated that under the three categories of national food production, toxins-free food production and prevention of food wastage, several programs will be implemented covering all the 10,353 schools of the country involved in this program.  

October 8 is Livestock Day. The inauguration of this day will be held at the Genetic Resources Centre in Peradeniya. Many extensive national programs, including dairy industry development projects, will be implemented for the development of the livestock field.

October 9 has been designated Entrepreneurs’ Day, and the inauguration ceremony of this day will be held at the premises of the Talawila Church in the North Western Province and the Andaulpatha Village in Mahiyangana in the Uva Province. A number of programs will be implemented across the country to encourage primary industrialists and entrepreneurs.

October 10 is Fisheries Day, and the Ministry of Fisheries stated that a special program will be implemented to release one million fish for breeding purposes. 

The inauguration of this day will be marked by the opening of the fish breeding centre in Kallarawa, built at a cost of Rs. 200 million. The implementation of programs to increase the fish consumption among the people in Hill Country and the Estate sector, programs for the development of livelihood as well as for employment opportunities creation will be accelerated. 

October 11 is Public Servants Day, and the inauguration ceremony in this regard will be held at the auditorium of the Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and Ratnapura District Secretariat.

October 12 has been named Diyawara Day, and the main ceremonies in this regard will be held near the Muruthawela Tank and near Urusitaveva in Embilipitiya.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mahaweli Development has organised many programs to get the active participation of the Mahaweli community for this program.  

In the Mahaweli zone there are an estimated 150,000 of irrigation lands and all those lands are expected to be used for this program in a proper manner.