Sri Lanka introduces Geographical Information System devices to support local agriculture sector
Sri Lanka’s Minister of Plantations and Export Agriculture Dr. Ramesh Pathirana has reportedly said that Geographical Information System (GIS) devices were introduced to farmers in a bid to support the local agriculture sector.
Pathirana has recently made this observation and also thanked the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for funding the project which would help towards creating an export-led agricultural sector.
The project aims to increase the use of GIS and has an inclusive rural financing scheme through major commercial banks.
According to reports, the total project cost will be US$ 65.4 million over a six-year period, of which IFAD will provide an equivalent to US$ 25.76 million.
Expenditure categories for IFAD funding includes society strength production support for tea and rubber plantation, equipment and materials, goods, services and inputs capital grants, Salaries, allowances, and operational costs.
Accordingly, the project area would be located in eight neighbouring districts in central and southern Sri Lanka, including Galle (tea), Matara (tea), Ratnapura (tea and rubber processing), Badulla (tea), Kandy (tea), Nuwara Eliya (tea), Moneragala (rubber) and Ampara (rubber).
These districts have been selected based on their poverty incidence, production of tea and potential for rubber and a total of 144,000 people, or 32,000 households, would benefit from the project, local media reports stated.
The Minister has further said that Sri Lanka’s President and Prime Minister are not only looking at the traditional exports of tea and rubber but also to coconuts and spices.
OSL take:
The government of Sri Lanka is engaged in a programme to modernise and mechanise the country’s agriculture sector. There are many business/investment opportunities in Sri Lanka’s agriculture industry ranging from the introduction of new technologies and techniques, new produce, machinery and export produce. Foreign businesses looking at opportunities in Sri Lanka could explore the country’s agriculture sector.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/25022020/Z_8 |