(LANKAPUVATH | COLOMBO) – Mr. Marc-André Franche, UN Resident Coordinator in Sri Lanka says the support given by the organizations affiliated to the United Nations will continue to be provided for the agricultural development of Sri Lanka.
Mr. Franche gave this assurance when he met the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera at the Ministry of Agriculture and discussed the future goals of the country’s agriculture.
Expressing his views, Minister Amaraweera said in the last three growing seasons, organizations such as the United Nations Food and Agriculture Program and the International Fund for Agricultural Development have provided a lot of support.
He noted that fertilizer, fuel and financial assistance were also given to the farmers to increase the contribution of agriculture to economic stability especially with the economic crisis in the country.
The Minister also mentioned that the UN assistance was a great relief to the farmers and that the government expresses its gratitude to the United Nations Organization and its affiliated institutions for their efforts in this regard.
The representative of the United Nations Organization, who expressed his opinion, stated that he will take steps to further extend the support of his organization as well as its affiliated institutions to Sri Lanka.
He also stated that priority will be given especially to areas such as agricultural environmental development, water management, protecting agriculture from climate change, and introducing agricultural technology.
A group of officials including Mr. Janaka Dharmakirthi, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries also participated in this event.
