The Department of Agricultural Development has initiated the distribution of parachute discs worth 490 million rupees to farmers for free. This initiative, which started on October 10, aims to facilitate the cultivation of 8461 acres using the parachute method, a novel technique designed to enhance rice yields.
The parachute method offers several advantages, including a 50% reduction in seed paddy usage compared to traditional sowing methods. This approach minimizes fertilizer requirements, eliminates additional costs associated with weed control, and reduces the need for pesticides. Farmers adopting this method can achieve higher yields while optimizing their agricultural practices.
Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera, the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the government’s commitment to allocate necessary financial resources for introducing new agricultural technologies, even amidst the prevailing financial challenges. Under this program, farmers are required to purchase one disk, with the government providing three additional disks free of charge.
This initiative is expected to distribute a total of 3.2 million parachute discs to farmers for the current season, enabling them to adopt innovative techniques for more efficient rice cultivation.
