Press briefing of Cabinet Decision taken on 2024-03-04 (Subject to Confirmation at the next Meeting)

Implementation of the Agriculture Modernization Programme

- Attention has been focused on modernizing the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka based on the models of other countries in the world that have modernized and largely transformed the agricultural sector using modern technology and novel knowledge. Accordingly, it has been planned to establish Agriculture Modernization Hubs by utilizing the amount of 2.5 billion Rupees allocated for the strengthening of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Boards through the Budget for the year 2024 and implement the Agriculture Modernization Programme island-wide as per short-term, mid-term and long-term plans. In the first phase of this programme, it is expected to implement pilot projects in 26 Divisional Secretariat Divisions selected from 25 Districts and in the second phase, to implement Agricultural Modernization Projects in 75 Divisional Secretariat Divisions island-wide covering 03 Divisional Secretariat Divisions selected from each District. Accordingly, the proposal made by the Hon. President to implement the Agriculture Modernization Programme by allocating Rs. 650 million; Rs. 25 million for each Agriculture Modernization Hub in each of the Divisional Secretariat Divisions selected for the implementation of the pilot project in the first phase and allocating Rs. 175 million; Rs. 35 million each for the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Export Agriculture, the Department of Animal Production and Health, the Department of Cinnamon Development and the National Aquaculture Development Authority, was approved by the Cabinet.