Netherlands to provide innovative agro know-how to ‘Grow Food’ program

• PM appreciates assistance provided by Netherlands for infrastructure development, agriculture
• Calls for more investments in agriculture, IT, renewable energy, transport and tourism

The Netherlands has assured to extend further support to Sri Lanka especially with know-how to the Government’s “Grow Food” program.

This assurance was given by when Netherlands Ambassador Bonnie Horbach called on Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena on Thursday.

The Premier thanked the Netherlands for the assistance provided to infrastructure development and agriculture and various other sectors and urged for technical know-how and more investments in agriculture, information technology, renewable energy, transport and tourism.

Horbach said Sri Lanka has vast potential in many areas including information technology, tourism and agriculture and she was confident that her country would undertake more projects once the global economic situation gets over the current difficult phase. 

The Prime Minister explained the ‘Grow Food’ programs undertaken by the Government at 14,000 Grama Sevaka divisions and said that in addition to the Maha season of paddy, cultivation of many other crops in hitherto uncultivated lands is likely to provide a good yield by the first quarter of next year.

Ambassador Horbach said her country has advanced in innovative agro technology and the Netherlands expertise could be provided to Sri Lanka. She said that the Netherland scientists have developed a new variety of potato that can grow in salty lands as most areas of her country is closer to sea and the land consist of saline water and that potato seeds could be provided to Sri Lanka to start potato cultivations in areas close to sea, especially in the north and east.

They also discussed other areas for collaboration, including climate change, trade and commerce, ports development and joint projects.

The new Netherlands Ambassador assured the Prime Minister her prime task would be to promote bilateral ties and development cooperation during her tenure in Sri Lanka.