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| World Bank Officials inspecting Farm Machinery Unit at Weerawila |
The World Bank Officials visited the Farm Machinery Unit (FMU)
established at the Agrarian Service Center (ASC) in Weerawila, Hambantota during
the Mid Term Review (MTR) of the Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project
(CSIAP). The Department of Agrarian Development (DAD) with the help of
the CSIAP, planned to commence the FMU as one of the major interventions for the ASC
to act as an efficient and effective one-stop service centre. It is also
expected to provide a better service for the farmers through the ASC to solve critical
issues such as lack of agriculture machinery, which hinders expected
productivity of the farmer lands and reduces the high production cost and
thereby improving the life condition of the farmers in the CSIAP areas. The DAD
plans to pilot two such units in Parangiyawadiya and Weerawila ASCs
respectively in Anuradhapura and Hambantota districts this year with the
financial assistance of the CSIAP. The total estimated cost of the two pilot Units is approximately
Rs 240 million and the CSIAP invests Rs 195.39 million two ASCs mentioned above.
Mr.
Seenithamby Manoharan (Consultant - Agriculture & Rural Development), Mr, Shanek Fernando (Social Development
Specialist), Mr. Sarath Wickramaratne (Consultant - Institutions) and Mr. Mohamed
Ameen (Consultant - Capacity Building, Fiduciary) of the World Bank, Eng.
R.M.B. Rajakaruna (Project Director), Mr. Mahinda Suwandaarachchi (Deputy
Project Director- Southern Province), Specialists and Officers of the CSIAP
were present in this event.
