Agriculture should be made more appealing to youth – Mahinda Amaraweera

Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries,  Mahinda Amaraweera, at a press conference held at the Presidential Media Centre (PMD) on the theme ‘Collective path to a stable country’ today (11), said that Agriculture should be made more appealing  to youth. He pointed out that at present the majority of the farming community were over fifty years of age and the youth were reluctant to take up the challenge.

Assuming duties at the ministry during a challenging period, Minister Amaraweera recounted his proactive approach to instill confidence in farmers. He said that with his encouragement and assurances, farmers have gradually increased paddy cultivation to an impressive 512,000 hectares and have achieved the highest yield in recent times.

Looking ahead to 2024, the Minister outlined the government’s agricultural priorities, with a focus on four key crops. While paddy cultivation has achieved success, efforts are underway to encourage the cultivation of maize, chillies, and yams. An on-going program aims to foster domestic cultivation of these crops, with dedicated areas allocated for each type. The government envisions self-sufficiency in growing these crops, reducing reliance on imports.