The Agriculture Ministry has introduced a third agricultural season between Yala and Maha to increase productivity in the agriculture sector of the country.

There is a two-and-a-half month gap between the traditional Yala and Maha agricultural seasons. The intervening period could be used successfully to cultivate essential food items, especially pulses such as green gram, cowpea, Kurakkan, maize and undu, said Secretary of the Agriculture Ministry Mr. K.E. Karunatileka.

The experiment which was conducted in Hambantota, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Ratnapura and the Mahaveli areas was successful, he added.

Around 7,599ha were cultivated during the third agricultural season and 6,137 MT of green gram were produced, Mr. Karunatileka said.

The Secretary said that the Government provided assistance including free fertilizer and seeds worth Rs.6.2 million to farmers to launch the third season cultivation of pulses.