With financial support from the Provincial Specific Development Grant (PSDG) – 2025, a Field Day themed “Promotion of the Parachute Method for Higher Yield with Weedy Rice Management” was held on 09.02.2026 at approximately 10:30 a.m. The event took place at a paddy plot located at Porikkadavai Amman Kovilady, Kunchuparanthan, established by Mr. K. Vinayagamoorthy under the Uruthirapuram Agriculture Instructor Range of the Office of the Deputy Director of Agriculture, Kilinochchi. The programme was conducted under the chairmanship of the Agriculture Instructor, Mr. N. Maharajan.
Mr. P. Devarathan, Deputy Commissioner of Agrarian Development, Department of Agrarian Development, Kilinochchi, attended as the Chief Guest. The Special Guests were Mr. I. Sanjeevan, Deputy Director of Agriculture, Seed and Planting Material Development Centre, Kilinochchi, and Mr. K. Prakash, Irrigation Engineer, Kilinochchi East Division. Mr. T. Yogeswaran, Additional Provincial Director of Agriculture, Northern Province, also graced the occasion.
The paddy plot concerned had been affected by severe infestation of weedy rice for the previous two cropping seasons, during which no harvest had been obtained. In the 2025/26 Maha season, one acre of paddy (Bg 360 variety) was successfully established using the Parachute planting method, effectively managing weedy rice infestation. This achievement was highlighted as a special feature of the programme.
A leaflet titled “Weedy Rice: A Challenge to Paddy Cultivation”, prepared by the Agriculture Instructor, was formally released by the guests and distributed among farmers. This was followed by technical explanations on Parachute paddy cultivation by the Subject Matter Officer (Paddy) and on weedy rice management by the Subject Matter Officer (Plant Protection).
Furthermore, under the financial allocation of PSDG – 2026, seed inputs for the promotion of other field crops and vegetable cultivation were distributed to selected farmers to enhance production. The participating dignitaries and farmers engaged in discussions on the benefits and successful outcomes of adopting the Parachute cultivation method, contributing to the success of the Field Day.
It is noteworthy that the event was attended by Subject Matter Officers, Agriculture Instructors, Technical Assistants, government officials, retired Agriculture Instructors, farmers, and members of the public.
