Climate
Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project implements Yala 200 which is in line with the programme implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture to overcome possible food shortage that could
surface out owing to COVID 19 pandemic. Therefore, this project will be
implemented in all climatically vulnerable hot spot areas identified by the project covering 11 districts of the island giving priority for the promotion
of Other Food crops (OFC). The total cultivable area expected to cover by the
project is 4,029.4 Ac involving with more than 7,074 beneficiaries. The project
aims to grow OFC in fields coming under the command area of tanks with adequate water applying climate-smart
practices.
The
COVID -19 pandemic occurred in end 2019 will limit the future food supply of
the country owing not only to the limited availability of food items in the
export market but also to the unhealthy financial status of the country to
import those. Under this circumstance, the Government of Sri Lanka has launched
a Saubhagya National Food Production Drive persuading the cultivation of all
food crops. Consistent with the AgStat volume XVI (Department of Agriculture,
2019), it was noted that from the total importation of food items, OFC alone
utilizes 39.26% of the food import bill. Further, the decision recently taken
by the cabinet of ministers to limit imports except pharmaceuticals and
petroleum will create a food shortage in the market in the short run.
The
number of direct beneficiaries of the sub-project is 7074 farmers in all hot
spot areas. Out of which 4882 farmers are male and 2192 are female. No of women
headed farmer families involved in the sub-project is 384.
Type of agriculture inputs and assistance for beneficiaries.
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| Harvesting cowpea in the field |
To
face this situation, the Presidential Task Force established to fight for Covid
19, has declared the promotion of food crops as an urgent need and which has become
a high priority in the country at present. This task force has identified
Maize, Mung bean, Ground nut, Cowpea, Kollu, Sesame, Kurakkan, Chili, Soya, B
Onion, Red Onion, Black gram, Turmeric and Ginger as the main crops to be given
priority.
Main the objective of the Yala 2020
To
support more than 7,000 farmers in hot spot areas of 11 districts to cultivate
OFCs in 4,029.4 acres to increase food production in the country and the annual
farmer family income by 10%.
Beneficiaries
of Yala 2020
The
number of direct beneficiaries of the sub-project is 7074 farmers in all hot
spot areas. Out of which 4882 farmers are male and 2192 are female. No of women
headed farmer families involved in the sub-project is 384.Type of agriculture inputs and assistance for beneficiaries.
It is proposed
that the selected farmers will be provided with seed materials required for the
cultivation of identified crops. the table shows the seed requirement different
OFC crops that would be cultivated under the project.
Crops proposed
to be cultivated and the seed requirement.
