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The Department of Agriculture has prepared a program regarding the yellowing in paddy cultivation that is spreading these days. Accordingly, special programs including the distribution of leaflets to educate farmers are being implemented. One phase of this program was implemented today (05^th) by the Department of Agriculture in the North Western Province. The island wide operation to control yellowing under the theme ‘Let’s identify yellowing in rice cultivation – Let’s protect the fields’ commenced at Kaballewa Yaya, Heelogama in Nikaweratiya.

Mr. P. Sisira Kumara, Director of the Extension and Training Centre, expressed his views as follows regarding the disease that has infected paddy cultivation.

“Our institution under the Department of Agriculture deals with paddy cultivation. We observed that farmers are raising questions extensively. There’s a lot of awareness being created through the media, saying that there are a number of problems regarding paddy yellowing. Through our 1920 agricultural advisory service, many farmers have asked questions about how to deal with yellowing. They have asked for the support of field officers to control this disease. Accordingly, we are implementing a program throughout this week to control yellowing. Indeed, it’s difficult for us to solve this matter over the telephone. That’s why we thought it’s necessary to go to the field and find out whether the yellowing is caused by a disease condition, or insect damage, or nutritional deficiency, or some other condition. Therefore, we thought to fully educate farmers across the entire island. For this program, we are implementing a large number of programs today in districts like Ampara, Polonnaruwa, Monaragala, Trincomalee, Ampara, Ratnapura and Kegalle. We are doing this in collaboration with the Rice Research Institute. We provide the necessary advice to control paddy yellowing at that time. For this purpose, 42 teams have been deployed by the Department of Agriculture. In addition to that, over 200 teams have been deployed regionally including Agriculture Instructors, Technical Officers and Assistant Directors. Two leaflets have been prepared. These leaflets are being distributed to farmers. Today we have been able to educate a large number of farmers. I especially want to mention that farmers should provide active participation to control this disease. Yellowing can occur not only in this season but also in other seasons, if a proper remedy is not obtained for this disease.”