Now, Directorate of Agriculture with State Support Takes to Turmeric Cultivating

Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock in the Army, to be in line with HE the President's 'Vistas of Prosperity' policy statement and the Army Commander's “Thuru Mithuru Nawaratak” concept, launched expecting the Army to be self-sufficient in vegetables, rice, eggs, fruits, dairy products, cereals and spices in future has now taken to cultivation of turmeric, an indispensable spice of medicinal value, needed for preparation of Asian meals, but currently is in short supply inside Sri Lanka due to COVID-19 threat.

The joint project in collaboration with the State Ministry of Export Promotions, expects to plant 100,000 turmeric seedlings, worth about Rs. 4 million in the Kohilawagurawatta Army Farm in Ambalangoda. Major General Indrajith Kandanaarachchi, Director, Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock, together with Hon Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture and Hon Janaka Wakkumbura, State Minister of Agriculture on Thursday (5) inaugurated the project at Ambalangoda.

5 (V) Sri Lanka Army General Service Corps troops would take care of the seed turmeric cultivation project at Ambalangoda which saw initial soil and bed preparations began exactly a month ago before the pilot project got to a start on Thursday (5).The second phase of the turmeric project is expected to commence in the Army Farm at Balalla and the third phase at Rambaken Oya Army farm on a staggered basis.

In parallel to this project, the Army Directorate of Agriculture and Livestock in collaboration with the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture will cultivate chillies in 200 acres, coconut seedlings in 1000 acres, TJ mango in 500 acres and cashew in 2000 acres with the aim of establishing an agro-tourism zone in the Silawathura area, close to Mannar on the directions of Lieutenant General Shavendra Silva, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army who has also instructed to conducts small scale plantation development activities inside Army Farms, covering sugarcane, maize, cashew, pepper, cinnamon, cloves, betel, etc.

Although turmeric can be grown in almost all regions in the country, Sri Lanka anually imports more than 50,000 mt of turmeric into the country spending much-needed foreign exchange, according to statistics.

Ministry officials, Officers, Other Ranks and several agrarian officials were at Ambalangoda for the inauguration. Adidas shoes | Nike Off-White