The Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan, stated that a climate-resilient agricultural system is urgently needed in the province to address the growing challenges posed by climate change to traditional farming practices. He further noted that adopting this new farming system would enable farmers to significantly increase their incomes.
The newly established Climate Resilient Agricultural Community Farm in the Piramanthanaru area, under the Kandawalai Divisional Secretariat Division of Kilinochchi District, was officially inaugurated on Tuesday evening (10 March 2026). The Minister of Rural Development, Social Security and Community Empowerment, Hon. Dr. Upali Pannilage, together with the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, jointly declared the farm open. The Governor made these remarks while addressing the public gathering held following the inauguration ceremony.
In his speech, the Governor further noted that farmers in the past used to say they would “farm by looking at the sky,” meaning they could predict rainfall and plan their cultivation accordingly. However, he pointed out that this situation has now completely changed. With rainfall patterns and storms becoming increasingly unpredictable, farmers are facing significant losses. Therefore, he emphasized that initiatives such as community farms are essential to help farmers adapt, recover from these challenges, and modernize their agricultural practices in line with present-day conditions.
The Governor further stated that the Northern Province possesses very fertile land, yet it remains among the regions most affected by poverty. Despite the hard work and dedication of farmers, many have not been able to achieve economic prosperity through agriculture. He expressed his firm belief that the modern cultivation methods now being introduced would help farmers become more prosperous in the future.
He also noted that by producing high-quality agricultural products, farmers would be able to access export opportunities in the years ahead. Therefore, he emphasized that this initiative represents a significant opportunity for the farming community
He further stated that since coming to power, the present government has placed greater emphasis on rural development. Whether it is the development of rural roads or the introduction of modern agricultural methods such as this, many initiatives are now being taken directly to the villages. He noted that the government’s main objective is to improve the living standards of people living in rural areas. Therefore, he emphasized that this modern agricultural approach should be expanded to other parts of the province in the future.
At the event, the nameplate of the community farm and the memorial plaque of the administrative building were ceremonially unveiled by the guests. Following this, the delegation, including the Hon. Minister and the Hon. Governor, visited the insect-control net houses and greenhouse units established at the site.On this occasion, the registration certificate of the agricultural association and modern agricultural equipment for the beneficiaries were also formally handed over by the Minister and the Governor.
This modern community agricultural farm has been established on approximately 10 acres of land in the Kandawalai Divisional Secretariat Division at a total cost of Rs. 91 million. Of this amount, Rs. 76 million was provided by the Ministry of Rural Development, while Rs. 15 million was contributed by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) as financial assistance.
Under this scheme, a total of 24 beneficiaries have been selected—14 for the insect-control net blocks and 10 for the greenhouse blocks. In the future, beneficiaries will be selected on a rotational basis. At present, cultivation of Cavendish banana, chilli, bell pepper, cabbage, and watermelon has commenced at the site. It is also noteworthy that a cold storage facility and an administrative building have been established within the farm complex to ensure the safe storage and management of the harvested produce.
The Kilinochchi District Secretary, the District Coordinator of the Clean Sri Lanka Task Force, the Kandawalai Divisional Secretary, technical experts from the United Nations Development Programme, officials of the District Secretariat, and a large number of members of the public also participated in this event.
