India to help restart farming in Lankan areas freed from LTTE

With de-mining of north Sri Lanka gaining momentum, India is sending a team of agriculture experts there to assist in activation of farming in the areas that have been freed from the LTTE control.

With de-mining of north Sri Lanka gaining momentum, India is sending a team of agriculture experts there to assist in activation of farming in the areas that have been freed from the LTTE control.

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The team, to be led by a crop scientist of Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), is expected to travel to Sri Lanka by the end of this month.

The agriculture experts will assess the soil condition, irrigation facilities and weather conditions among other aspects to determine how farming could be started in the areas freed from LTTE control, sources told PTI in New Delhi.

The timing of the visit has been chosen in view of the coming crop season.

The team will determine requirements for activation of farming in those areas so that follow-up assistance could be extended by India which is set for a massive rehabilitation and reconstruction agenda in the Tamil-dominated areas, they said.

The government has also roped in noted agriculture scientist MS Swaminathan and he is being consulted in the effort to activate farming in north Sri Lanka.

Activation of farming activities is one of the first steps aimed at providing livelihood to locals.