In 2025, under the programme implemented by the Ministry to promote potato cultivation, Red La Soda seed potatoes suitable for the dry zone were distributed. An allocation of Rs. 844,250.00 was made for this programme. The project covered 16 farmers in the Agricultural Instructor Divisions of Neervely, Urumpirai, Punnalaikattuvan, Chunnakam, Achchuveli, Avarangal, and Vasavilan. The seed potatoes were supplied by the Nuwara Eliya Seed Potato Production Centre.
Details of Seed Potatoes Distributed
• Red La Soda G0 Normal – 1,000 nos
• Red La Soda G0 Jumbo – 26,265 kg
• G1 Red La Soda 15–28 mm – 1,000 nos
• G1 Red La Soda 28–55 mm – 1,746 kg
Field days were conducted in the Agricultural Instructor ranges where cultivation was carried out.
1. Punnalaikadduvan Agricultural Instructor Range
Under the leadership of the Punnalaikattuvan Agricultural Instructor, a Field day was held on 18.02.2026 (Wednesday) at 3.00 pm at the potato field of Mr. K. Prabhakaran in Punnalaikattuvan North.
The event was attended by:
• Mr. S. Sivasri – Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Province
• Mrs. P. Ponnambalam – Divisional Secretary, Uduvil
• Mrs. A. Srirangan – Deputy Director of Agriculture, Jaffna
• Mr. M.C.S.S. Dasanayake – Deputy Director of Agriculture (Seeds), Nuwara Eliya
• Mr. E.M.R. Janaka – Officer-in-Charge, Green House Complex, Seed Potato Farm, Seetha Eliya
• Subject officers, Agricultural Instructors, Provincial Department of Agriculture officers, Farm Broadcasting Service officers, Agrarian Development Officer, Grama Niladhari, and many farmers
In this division, seed potatoes were distributed in four different categories:
• G1 (15–28 mm) – 62 tubers
• G1 (28–55 mm) – 109 kg
• G0 Normal – 62 tubers
• G0 Jumbo – 1,000 tubers
The farmer planted:
• 109 kg of G1 (28–55 mm)
• 62 tubers of G1 (15–28 mm)
Planting was done on 21.12.2025 at a spacing of 60 cm × 30 cm. Harvesting was carried out on 18.02.2026.
At harvest, yield varied according to the size of the seed tubers. Farmers expressed preference for cultivating smaller and medium-sized seed tubers in the future.
2. Atchuvely Agricultural Instructor Range
In the Atchuvely Range, a Field day was held at the potato field of Mr. S. Lingeswaran in Pathameny on 08.02.2026 (Sunday) at 9.00 am, under the leadership of the Atchuvely Agricultural Instructor.
The event was attended by the Deputy Director of Agriculture – Jaffna District, Subject Matter Officers, Agricultural Instructors and many farmers.
Seed potatoes were distributed in four categories:
• G1 (15–28 mm) – 63 tubers
• G1 (28–55 mm) – 109 kg
• G0 Normal – 62 tubers
• G0 Jumbo – 1,641 tubers
The tubers were allowed to sprout for 15 days in a well-ventilated sandy area before planting on 06.12.2025. Harvesting was carried out on 08.02.2026. Yield varied according to the size of seed tubers.
Number and Size of Tubers per Plant
| Size | G1 (15–28 mm) | G1 (28–55 mm) | G0 Normal | G0 Jumbo |
| Large | 2 nos | 9 nos | 4 nos | 5 nos |
| Medium | – | 6 nos | – | 4 nos |
| Small | 5 nos | 6 nos | – | 4 nos |
| Very Small | – | 4 nos | – | – |
| Total Weight | 397 g | 1064 g | 355 g | 551 g |
Yield per 1 m² (in grams)
| Size | G1 (15–28 mm) | G1 (28–55 mm) | G0 Normal | G0 Jumbo |
| Large | 170 | 4848 | 2480 | 4156 |
| Medium | 1230 | 1736 | 957 | 494 |
| Small | 1600 | 123 | 188 | – |
| Very Small | – | 93 | – | – |
| Total Weight | 3000 | 6800 | 3625 | 4650 |
3. Puttur Agricultural Instructor Range
In the Puttur Agricultural Instructor Range, a harvest festival was held at the potato field of Mr. S. Navaraj in Atchelu village on 08.02.2026 (Sunday) at 11.00 am, under the leadership of the Puttur Agricultural Instructor.
The event was attended by the Deputy Director of Agriculture – Jaffna District, Subject Matter Officers, Agricultural Instructors and many farmers.
Seed potatoes were distributed in four categories:
• G1 (15–28 mm) – 63 tubers
• G1 (28–55 mm) – 109 kg
• G0 Normal – 62 tubers
• G0 Jumbo – 1,641 tubers
After sprouting for 15 days in a well-ventilated sandy area, planting was done on 08.12.2025, and harvesting took place on 08.02.2026. Yield varied according to seed tuber size.
Total Yield per Plant
• G1 (15–28 mm) – 750 g
• G1 (28–55 mm) – 650 g
• G0 Normal – 500 g
• G0 Jumbo – 750 g
Yield Details by Size
| Size | G1 (15–28 mm) | G1 (28–55 mm) | G0 Normal | G0 Jumbo |
| Large | 12 nos – 1400 g | 32 nos – 2750 g | 37 nos – 2585 g | 34 nos – 2400 g |
| Medium | 18 nos – 1350 g | 14 nos – 810 g | 4 nos – 135 g | 8 nos – 240 g |
| Small | 24 nos – 680 g | 20 nos – 425 g | 14 nos – 280 g | 25 nos – 450 g |
| Total Weight | 3430 g | 3985 g | 3625 g | 4650 g |
