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Fallow paddy fields in Katana cultivated after 40 years
At a time when there are no puran appula or govi ralala clad in loin cloths ploughing paddy fields with traditional ploughs and buffaloes, but people clearing forests with hatchets, it is heartening to see certain paddy fields which were once barren, being cultivated once again.
A 17 acre land in the Katana Divisional Secretariat has already been cultivated under the directions and commitment of Agriculture and Research Production Officer J. A. S. Nisansala Dilrukshi.
“In our Katana Divisional Secretariat area there are more than 100 acres of abandoned paddy fields. We are now planning to cultivate them. We will not be using any Government funds and owners of these paddy fields are taking the risk themselves,” Ms. Dilrukshi said.
“We give only fertiliser subsidies and expect a good harvest of about 70 bushels from each acre. We had to renovate the irrigation systems here. We cleared the Haliya Canal of the mud and silt that had filled it. We need to rebuild its bed so water can easily flow.”
“Last year about 19 acres of paddy fields at Adikkandiya and Welihena, cultivated after 40 years were completely destroyed due to heavy rains and floods, because the rain water was stagnant. Now we are paying a lot of attention to correct this situation. Some farmers could not actually bear the loss they experienced last year. They still expect some relief from the Government for it.”