President Maithripala Sirisena launched the National Food Production Battle, aimed at taking forward the national food production programme, at Kekirawa in Anuradhapura today (06).

The inauguration of this programme was marked by holding the ‘National Wap Magul Ceremony’ under the patronage of President under the theme ‘Let’s get together and rise- Let’s fill the Granary’ at 8.30 a.m. near the Thibbotuwawa Tank, Kekirawa.

It is expected to launch many programmes across the country while declaring October 06 to October 12 as the National Food Production week.

October 6th, the first day of Food Production Week campaign has been designated as the Farmers’ Day, and many programmes, including distribution of seed paddy to farmers, rehabilitation of 2,000 acres of coconut lands, launching of Mahaweli Agri Project plan for 2017/18, implementation of special programmes for the development of home gardening, presentation of 2,500 title deeds to the  Mahaweli  farming community, tree planting programmes, conducting seminars and training programmes regarding new agri technology, distribution of equipment to promote the production of organic fertilizer, will be implemented throughout the country  .

October 07th will be Students’ Day and the inauguration ceremony of this will be held at the Siyane National School, Gampaha under the patronage of Minister of Education. The Ministry of Education stated that under three categories: National food production, toxins free food production, prevention of food wastage, several programmes will be implemented covering all the 10,353 schools of the country for this programme. 

October 08th is the Livestock Day. The inauguration of this day will be held at the Genetic Resources Centre in Peradeniya. Many extensive national programmes including dairy industry development projects will be implemented for the development of the livestock Field.

October 9th, of Food Production Week campaign has been designated as the Entrepreneurs’ Day, and the inauguration ceremony of this Day will be held at the premises of the Talawila Church in the North Western Province and the Andaulpatha Village in Mahiyangana in Uva Province. A number of programmes will be implemented across the country to encourage the primary industrialists and entrepreneurs.

October 10th is the Fisheries Day, and the Ministry of Fisheries stated that a special programme will be implemented to release one million fish for breeding purposes.

The inauguration of this Day will be marked by opening of the Fish Breeding Center in Kallarawa, built at a cost of 200 million rupees. Especially implementation of programmes to increase the fish consumption among the people in Hill Country and the Estate sector, programmes for the development of livelihood as well as for the employment opportunities creations, will be accelerated.

October 11 is the Public Servants Day,and the inauguration ceremony in this regard will be held at the Auditorium of Sabaragamuwa Provincial Council and Rathnapura District Secretariat.

October 12 has been named as Diyawara Day,and the main ceremonies in this regard will be held near the Muruthawela Tank and near Urusita veva in Embilipitiya.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Mahaweli Development has organized many programmes to get the active participation of the Mahaweli community for this programme. 

In the Mahaweli zone, there are an estimated 150,000 of irrigation lands and all those lands are expected to be used for this program in a proper manner.