The District Agriculture Committee and the Environment Committee, which are reviewing the progress of agriculture in the Kegalle District, met at the District Secretariat this morning (11) under the chairmanship of Additional District Secretary (Lands) Dilip Nishantha.

The Additional District Secretary further stated that all institutions related to the agricultural sector should work under an integrated approach and that a systematic work plan will be prepared for this in the future.

Under the model paddy cultivation and dam cleaning program implemented in conjunction with the Clean Sri Lanka program, one paddy field selected in each Agricultural Research and Production Assistant Division for the 2025 Yala season will be cultivated as a model paddy field, and one selected canal dam will be cleaned and cleaned in each Agrarian Service Area with the participation of all parties.

The National Fertilizer Secretariat is currently implementing a program called "One more seed for the paddy field", said Deputy Director of the District Fertilizer Secretariat, Mr. T.H.S. Tennakoon. This introduces an integrated plant nutrition method through the use of chemical fertilizers and organic fertilizers.

The future plans of the District Agriculture Division, Planning Division, District Samurdhi Division, Minor Export Crops Cultivation, Rubber Development Department, Small Tea Estate Development Authority, Livestock and Animal Production Division, and Aquatic Life Division for the year 2025 were also presented here.

The damage caused to crops by wild animals in the Kegalle District was discussed here and attention was paid to the proposals submitted by the committees established at the regional level regarding wild animal damage. District Agriculture Director S. M. Thilakasiri said that steps will be taken to submit those proposals to the District Coordination Committee for necessary action.

The need to protect the Bandula Pethiya fish endemic to the Kegalle district was highlighted based on a survey conducted by the Project Controller of the Department of Wildlife, Pradeep Ratnasiri, and special attention was paid to it by the Environment Committee.

On this occasion, the Divisional Secretaries, Assistant Commissioner of Agrarian Development, heads of institutions belonging to the agricultural sector, officers of Agrarian Service Centers, representatives of farmer associations, officers of the Environment Authority and a group of others participated.