Boosting Hambantota’s Agricultural Sector: Rs.50 Million Worth of Equipment Distributed to Youth Entrepreneurs

The Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Village Programme has garnered significant attention in seven villages within the Hambantota District, successfully attracting young individuals to the agriculture industry.

Designed as a platform to initiate various agricultural projects within these communities, the programme has rapidly gained momentum. What sets these initiatives apart is their emphasis on aligning with the specific needs and capabilities of local farmers, rather than being solely government-led endeavors.

A recent event at the Agunakolapalassa Divisional Secretariat, overseen by Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, saw the distribution of equipment worth an impressive Rs. 50 million. This equipment included water pumps, plastic packaging tools to reduce post-harvest wastage, and safety nets to protect crops from damage.

During the event, Minister Amaraweera emphasized the significance of this initiative in rectifying distributional errors made by previous governments, stressing the historical prevalence of political bias in resource allocation. He made it clear that the time has come to correct these past mistakes, stating, “Today we are distributing Rs. 50 million worth of equipment for agricultural purposes. Here are not the people who voted for me. People who have torn my election posters are here. There are people here who went from house to house telling not to vote for me. But in providing these benefits, we only looked at their abilities.”

Minister Amaraweera’s remarks underscore a commitment to fairness and meritocracy, challenging the influence of political favoritism in past resource allocation. He also highlighted the need for change, suggesting that the current era provides an opportunity to move away from the shortcomings of previous administrations.

The substantial investment in equipping young individuals with the necessary tools for success in agriculture not only represents a significant milestone in revitalizing the sector, but also demonstrates the government’s commitment to fostering a climate of impartiality and merit-based support for all farmers.

As the positive impact of the Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurship Village Programme becomes increasingly evident, the future of agriculture in Hambantota appears more promising than ever. With continued efforts to empower the younger generation and ministerial initiatives to defy the constraints of political favoritism, the agricultural landscape is poised for a transformation.