During last year’s Maha season which commenced in September, 14284 farmers were given loans up to Rs.1.1 billion for agricultural purposes.

Asst. Governor of the Central Bank W.M.Karunaratne said that food crops cultivated using these loans are being harvested and an average of 25 lorry loads of vegetables such as onions, chillies, and vegetables are being received daily at Economic Centres and in the Manning Market in Colombo.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture informs that there is a great demand for vegetable seeds and plant material. This demand has increased further with the launch of the “Divi Neguma” domestic economic development programme.

The Ministry has already supplied one million plant saplings. Production of seed varieties for another 500 thousand people is currently underway.