The Ministry of Minor Crop Exports, along with the Sugar Cane Research Institute, has taken steps to revive sugar cane cultivation in Kilinochchi district.

We will launch a pilot project to cultivate sugar cane in 100 acres in the Skandapuram area in Kilinochchi, the Ministry Secretary, Vajira Narampanawa said.

Before the conflict erupted there had been nearly 300 acres of sugar cane cultivation in Kilinochchi.

Under this project the ministry is planning to give one acre each to 100 farmers and they are expected to earn Rs. 60,000 per year as profit from their cultivations, the Secretary said.

We also plan to give the farmers cash or inputs worth Rs. 35,000 initially, including fertilizer and irrigation pumps, he said adding that the harvest will be purchased by the Sugar Cane Research Institute.

"Once the cultivation is well established the ministry is planning to select a number of entrepreneurs from the area to produce jaggery and treacle as an industry," Narampanawa said.

It is hoped that eventually Kilinochchi will become a sugar manufacturing center, he added.

The project proposals have already been developed and the project is scheduled to be launched before the end of this year, Narampanawa said.