Agriculture development in Mannar district ignored

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 01:54 GMT]
Twelve Agrarian Service Centres (ASCs) located in Mannar district are without adequate staff and other basic facilities are unable to assist the farming community in the development of agriculture, farmers' association sources complained.

Twelve Divisional Officers are needed to run these ASCs. But only three Divisional Officers are currently working in Mannar district.

The authorities are using financial assistance provided by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to repair war-damaged ASC buildings.

Although authorities are taking steps to provide tractors, harvesters, water pumps sprayers and other related equipments needed for the development of agriculture activities in the district, efficient management of these centers have been hampered by shortage of staff, farmers association officials said.

Farmers association has requested the government to take immediate steps to recruit graduates as Divisional Officers to fill the vacancies in the ASCs, sources said.