Minister of Agriculture instructed to take appropriate measures to control diseases in paddy cultivation currently spreading in several districts in the island - Government is ready to provide financial allocations for disease control

Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation instructed the Department of Agriculture yesterday (09) to take necessary steps to control a number of diseases such as yellow spot disease, insect infestation and nematode disease which are currently spreading in several districts in the island.

The Minister of Agriculture expressed these views while participating in a Progress Review Meeting held at the Ministry of Agriculture yesterday (09).

Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe, the Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture stated that these diseases have been identified from four districts and appropriate actions are being taken to control the spread of such diseases. The Department of Agriculture has sent teams of special officers to each district. The Secretary also stated that they have started a programme to inform the farmers about the measures to be taken for disease control and the recommended insecticides.

The Minister also proposed to hold a discussion within this week with all parties to control the spread of these diseases. Minister Mahinda Amaraweera also said that the Government will provide the necessary financial allocations for this purpose.

The Minister added that the Government is making every attempt to succeed this Maha season and the Government’s aim is to succeed the programme for prevention of food and nutritional deficiencies this year based on the success of rice and maize cultivation.