Accordingly, 600 such villages will be established in 2011, 1200 villages in 2012 and 1800 villages in 2013 under this programme.

The Cabinet yesterday granted approval to produce 1500,000 bushels of seed paddy, 205,000 kgs of supplementary food crop seeds and 55,000 kgs of vegetable seeds being an addition to the existing production.

Cabinet also granted approval to allocate Rs.160 million for providing seed and other inputs coupled with co-ordination and training activities.

Under this programme, big onion seed production will be increased to meet entire seed requirement locally by 2013. At present, 12,000 kgs of big onion seed are produced locally. It has been planned to increase this quantity up to 46,000 kgs being the targeted total requirement by 2013.

The proposed new plan envisages the gradual increase of seed production from 2011 with the expansion of cultivations in Matale, Anuradhapura, Dambulla and Mahaweli areas with the help of selected farmers.

They are provided with quality seeds, technical knowledge and other inputs, facilities to vernalization of parental tubers, trainings and holding field-days etc. Accordingly, Cabinet approval was granted to allocate Rs.60 million for implementing this programme during the period 2011 to 2013.