Competitive purchasing is essential to ensure better prices for agricultural produce. Necessary steps have already been initiated to establish such a competitive purchasing mechanism. Through this initiative, it is hoped that agriculture will become a more profitable sector, said the Hon. Governor of the Northern Province, N. Vethanayahan.
In the Kilinochchi District, within the Pallai Divisional Secretariat Division, a Pomegranate Harvesting Ceremony was held on Friday evening – 17th October 2025, under the Agriculture Modernization Project implemented by Red Angel Agro Limited.
In February 2024, 150 farmers were selected under this project, and each was provided with 420 pomegranate saplings along with necessary technical support and guidance. This project, carried out through modern rather than traditional farming methods, held its first harvest today. An initial yield of about 10 kilograms of pomegranates per tree is expected.
Addressing the event, the Governor said:
“Our province is both the most resource-rich and the most poverty-stricken in Sri Lanka. Due to our failure to utilize resources appropriately, we are leading in poverty.
Farmers must shift toward modern cultivation methods. Only through that can they achieve commercial-scale harvests and increase their income.
Those who withdrew from this project thinking it would fail should now realize, upon seeing your success, what they missed. We must bring in more participants and continue this project successfully,” said the Governor.
The event was attended by the District Secretary – Kilinochchi, the Divisional Secretary – Pallai Division, the Assistant Chief Secretary to the Chief Secretary’s Secretariat, the Deputy Director of Agricultural – Kilinochchi District , the Assistant Project Director of the Agricultural Modernization Project, and a large number of farmers.
