Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage stated that steps will be taken to cultivate a large number of fallow lands in the country within one day.

The Minister stated that steps will be taken in the future to provide credit facilities to the youth who are engaged in cultivating fallow lands and other cultivations.

He noted that the circulars will be amended in such a way that the firearms licences which were issued to farmers with five acres of land would be also given to the farmers with one acre of land. The decision was taken following the withdrawal of farmers from farming activities based on damages caused to their crops by wild boars, wild monkeys and other animals.

Meanwhile, loans for paddy purchasing activities in the North, North Central and North Western Provinces will commence from today in accordance with a cooperative concept. State Minister of Cooperatives Lasantha Alagiyawanna stated that the inaugural phase will commence at the Vavuniya District Secretariat, Anuradhapura Provincial Council Auditorium and Kurunegala Provincial Council Office.

Accordingly, 45,000 tonnes of paddy is to be purchased. The State Minister stated that a loan of 4% will be provided for this purpose and the loan amount will need to be repaid within six months