Over view of Crop
Production Programme - 2013
Paddy
Maha
Season 2012/2013
The extent cultivated
in Maha 2012/2013 is 6567 ha. The achievement of
paddy cultivation was 99'8% of target extent' Total production of paddy was roughly 16355. mt. There was decrease of 271 ha in Maha 2012/2013
when compared with Maha 2011/2012 .About 1293 ha of cultivated paddy land were completely
damaged by heavy rain' The
production was decreased by 2968'7 mt which was due to heavy rain'
Yala
Season 2013
In Yala 2013
cultivation extent was 1241'6ha and production is 4417'7 mt' The achievement of paddy
cultivation was 99'9%
of target extent' Compared
to Yala 2012 there was a decrease of 6'4 ha due to less water availability in the Thalapitaoya and
Borapola tanks. The parachute method introduced in Bubula and Periya Neelavanai
AI ranges had a great impact on farmers to increase paddy production'
Other Field Crops (OFC)
Other
Field Crop cultivation is a prominent aspect in provincial Agriculture area in
Ampara district' There is cowpea based sub culture
in Mahaoya and Padiyathalawa area which has the first place in Sri Lanka in extent and production of cowpea
cultivation' The farmers in this area cultivate
cowpea in Yala , maha and third season' In
addition to cowpea they cultivate maize, green gram and gingelly' Ground nut cultivation is popular in Coastal and Panama area'
Specially in Thambiluvila area self seed producing ground nut farmers were
assisted by UNDP logo project' Recently red onion cultivation under Line
ministry programme was introduced to Ninthavur segment which had good results'
The
achievement of OFC was around 90'2% of
the targeted extent during Maha 2012/2013'The
extent of 1766 ha has increased in OFC when compared to Maha 2011/12'
Yala season 2013
In
provincial area 90'5 % was achieved approximately of
the targeted extent in Yala 2013.
Vegetables
Low
country vegetable cultivation is popular in the district' Only 0'045%
of district requirement is need to bring from outside of the district' Local production
of vegetable satisfy the 99'955 %
of district requirement' Strengthening of home gardening
under “ Diwi naguma’’ programme and home garden development programmes under
PSDG had a great impact on promotion of local vegetable production'
Fruit crops
Banana, papaw, lime and water melon are prominent fruit crops grown in
Ampara district' The farmers in Padiyathalawa
supplies lime for export market and also water melon cultivation is in large
extent in Mahaoya, Padiyathalawa and Hulannuge area'
Although there are lack of commercial level farmers, most of the farmers
grow fruits in home garden level for their consumption' Commercial level papaw cultivation in
Thangavelayudapuram where was a war affected area, assisted by UNDP logo
project'
90.52 % was achieved approximately of the targeted extent in Yala 2013 in
provincial area and 84% was achieved out of target extent in coastal area. In
Yala 2013' 68'7 %
was achieved of the targeted extent during Maha 2012/2013.
Agricultural
Extension Programme
Agricultural Extension Programmes
implemented under following categories:
3.1
Programmes under PSDG 2013 (Provincial Specified Development
Grants)
3.2 Ministry
Allocation
3.4 Line
ministry Programmes
Best
farmers Awards
The main impact of this programme is the motivation
of farmers on better agricultural activities by creating a competition among
enthusiastic farmers' The best farmers were selected
under following topics;
1' Best
Nursery man
2' Best
agriculture entrepreneur
3' Best
OFC seed producer
4' Best
innovative farmer
5' Best
compost producer
The prizes for 3 places under above topics were
given on 29'11'2013
at Awarding ceremony conducted at DDA’s office'
Ampara (Provinial)
Study Tour under ministry Allocation
Under
this programme 33 members of the staff visited CIC farm in Hingurakkgoda' The were able to gain knowledge on commercial
banana cultivation, Seed paddy production and Agro tourism' By sharing new experiences through this study tour,
the staff capacity was increased specially regarding promoting commercial level banana cultivators in their
AI range wise'
Women Agriculture Extension
Programme
Training programmes followed by
demonstrations were conducted for farm women to improve their knowledge on food
and nutrition, food security through domestic food production, value addition,
resource management in home gardens and small scale women food entrepreneurship' Women Agriculture Extension Organizations were
established and monitoring for enhance farm women in unity work and their own
development'
Special programme on strengthening
of small scale women food entrepreneurs financially assisted by Women
Agriculture Extension unit, Gannoruwa was implemented for the Yashodara Women
Agriculture Extension Organization in Kolamanthalawa' under this 25 members
were trained on ice cream production and entrepreneurship skill development' 2 rice flour grinders, 1 manioc chipper and 1
deepfreezer was approved to supplied for members engaged in small scale women
food industry'
Training Program
Training
is vital for farmers and extension staff to improve their efficiency that leads
to increase the productivity. In crop production'
6'1' Farmer Training:
Field
training programmes were conducted in AII ranges by Agricultural Instructors
with the Assistance of subject matter officers on the topics that farmers had
lack of knowledge.
6'1'2' Farmer Training Centre Trainings'
Farmer
Training centreis functioning in Serankada' Model
crop cultivations are established in it to enhance farmers, school children and
other officers in order to transfer modern technology in Agriculture' Practical trainings are conducting here to expand
Agricultural knowledge'
Staff training given to officers
helped to enhance their technical capacity to perform well in the field level. The
details of the trainings conducted for the staff of office of the Deputy
Director of Agriculture, Ampara (Provincial) during the year 2013 are given bellow;
Market price
Information
Agricultural Trade Fairs
Agricultural trade fairs were conducted in order to
facilitate farmers and consumers to buy and sell the agricultural goods' Two fairs were held in
Akkraipauu East and Mahaoya' The farmers valued the programme very much as it was a great
opportunity to solve the marketing problem of their goods'
UNDP LoGo ELED
program
Ground nut seed
production and expansion program
In Thambiluvil and Thangavelayudapuram area 64 farmers
cultivated 39 Ac of ground nut and about 25'35mt of harvest was taken in Yala 2013. 1540kg of seeds
and 5 water pumps were provided for them under this programme' Average income of farmers was
Rs'84500 / Ac. Also they were able
to produce quality seeds for them and neighboring farmers' In Maha 2013/14 30Ac of
cultivation is going on under this project'
Papaw and Murunga
Cultivation
Agriculture production society in Thangavelayudapuram was
given potting shed and quality seeds to raise seedlings' 15 farmers were given 700 nos
of papaw seedlings and 25 farmers were given provided 150 nos' of murunga seedlings' The farmers earned incredible
income of about Rs'
100000/- by harvesting papaw' A field day was held in 2013 with participation of
honorable minister of Agriculture in Eastern province' The murunga cultivated received
a income of about Rs'3000/-
Bee Honey production
program
25 bee keepers in
Parakum Agriculture society, Padiyathalawa assisted under this project by
providing bee boxes and smokers' Also they were trained on bee keeping at ISTI,
Bindunuwewa' A sticker was
prepared and given for them for marketing of bee honey in 375ml of bottles at
price of Rs' 150/-' The average income of farmers per season is Rs' 3000 -3500/-' 20 new bee keepers have started bee keeping after
observing the progress of the project'
Hybrid Chillie
cultivation in Payiyathalawa assisted by Export Development Board
Jelapino and Halapino cultivation under protected houses
18 protected houses had established in Padiyathalawa to
produce hybrid chillie varieties of Jelapino and halapino'
The programme is assisted by Export Development Board with
coordination of Heyleys Agro Pvt' Ltd'
which provided the seed materials' DOA provide technical assistance via Agriculture
instructors' The
harvesting have started and up to now about 100 kg of harvest per one net house
was taken'
Therefore the average income of farmers now Rs' 6500/-