18 June, 2023
Sri Lanka has to spend nearly Rs.18,900 million annually for importing maize for manufacturing animal feed. This amount can be saved if local maize cultivation is increased utilising the available human resources and other natural resources, Kurunegala District Assistant Director of Agriculture R.M.Piyaratne said.
Speaking at a meeting of poultry farmers of the Kurunegala and Puttalam districts, he said nearly 50,000 unemployed youth can be offered with direct and indirect job opportunities here if current maize cultivation is intensified countrywide on a commercial basis.
Taking this matter into consideration, 16,000 hectares of lands are to be cultivated with maize in the forthcoming Maha season by the Agricultural Ministry.