The President said this while inaugurating the groundnut processing plant constructed in the Batticaloa-Karadianar area at a cost of 55 million rupees under the agricultural modernization program implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture this morning (23).
The President who attended the event was given a welcome in Tamil culture.
The president inaugurated the groundnut processing plant and inspected its operations.
After that the farmer was also given laptops by the President.
Meanwhile, President Ranil Wickramasinghe also visited the Pomegranate plantation located in Mailambavali – Chengaladi area this morning.
This pomegranate plantation is spread over an area of 150 acres and 300 farmers are involved in its cultivation. Farmers had earned up to Rs 36 lakh from half an acre of pomegranate crop last year.
Addressing the inauguration of the groundnut processing plant, the President
“This is part of the agricultural modernization programme. Most of the land in the country is unproductive. All these lands should be used for crops. It should be structured as export agriculture. We should be ready to export agricultural produce not only for the food requirement of this country but also for the food requirement of other countries.
It can generate more domestic income. There will be no need to borrow from abroad. I took charge of this country to rebuild the country’s economy. As the new economy develops, the farmers of the country will also get good returns.
The factory was inaugurated today and the agricultural companies were also provided with laptops to carry out agricultural work with modern technology. Indian farmers manage these operations through their mobile phones.
We have given permanent land guarantees to those who have been farming on government lands. Land guarantees were also given in Batticaloa district yesterday. So you have secured the land. So you should be proud.
Also, we have started a nationwide agricultural modernization programme. The work program will be implemented jointly by the Ministry of Agriculture and Provincial Agriculture Ministries. It is planned to convert all Agricultural Service Stations into Agricultural Modernization Stations by next year. Through this, the income of the farmers of this country will gradually increase and the rural areas will also develop.
For that we are planning to implement a massive work program in Batticaloa district. We are looking forward to improve agriculture in areas including Mahavali A – B zones. By that the agriculture of the area will be fully developed.” The President said.
Eastern Province Governor Senthil Thondaman, State Ministers S. Vijayendran, Shivanesathurai Chandrakanthan, President’s Senior Adviser on National Security and President’s Task Force Chief Sagala Ratnayake also attended the event.
