Agro Technical Training program inaugurated in Ki'linochchi

[TamilNet, Sunday, 19 August 2007, 12:20 GMT]
Training for a group of thirty students in agro-technical field was inaugurated this week in Ariviyal Nakar, Ki'linochchi, as part of a programme implemented by the The Economic Consultancy House (TECH), a Sri Lanka Government registered NGO working in the NorthEast funded by FORUT, sources in Vanni said.

Government Agent of Ki'linochchi, Mr.N.Vethanayagam, speaking as the Chief Guest of the event, said: "Although nearly 80% of the families in Ki'linochchi district are cultivators, proven and effective management techniques are not used to increase agricultural productivity.

"Most of the farmers produce the same kind of crops creating marketing problems. Improper water management has resulted in wastage of water and has left much of the cultivable land unused. Proper management in irrigation and agriculture is essential to improve productivity," Mr Vethanayagam said.

Mr.N.Vethanayagam lit the traditional lamp at the opening of the inauguration. The name board was unveiled by Mr.Kamalanathan the assistant programme manager for FORUT. Mr.SriRanjan the chairman of the Committee of the college of Agriculture presided at this function.

Mr. Senthilkumaran the district programme coordinator for Oxfam, Mr.M. Suntharamoorthy the Director of Tech and the Government Agent spoke to the gathering. Mr.S.Sukunan the Executive Director of Tech also took part at this event.




The Campaign for Development and Solidarity, FORUT, established in 1981, is the largest Norwegian-Swedish NGO in Sri Lanka, and has been working in Sri Lanka for about 25 years with regional offices in nearly all the provinces. FORUT’s activities are financed through fund-raising campaigns and grants from the Norwegian and Swedish governments. FORUT has project activities in Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, Sierra Leone, Senegal and The Gambia, and Malawi is now in the process of becoming project country number seven of FORUT.