Farmers in Jaffna brought their needs to Minister Devananda

(October 29, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) The Farmers of Jaffna Urumpirai, Urelu and Kopay have made contact with the Minister of Social Services and Social Welfare and Northern Province Special Task Force Chief, Douglas Devananda and discussed regarding the problems faced by them.

They have explained to the Minister that they are being forced into a difficult situation to invest for their cultivation activities as they are badly affected due to the torrential rains and the burden of agriculture loan.

They solicited the Minister?s kind intervention to do the needful and to supply them with seed potatoes on a loan basis to enable them to cultivate in a large scale during this 2008 ? 2009 season.

Further the farmers brought to the notice of the Minister that a heavy tax is being charged in the fair when they go there to market their products.

After giving a patient hearing, the Minister said that he will take action to issue them with seed potatoes on the loan basis and he will look into the possibilities to issue the potatoes free of charge and the Minister requested them to get register with the Jaffna?Thesavala Farmers Society?.

Further he said he would take action regarding their agriculture loan and losses caused by the heavy rain considering for relief. Regarding the fair tax he assured a reasonable solution. - Sri Lanka Guardian