Mar 28, Colombo: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the agriculture authorities to immediately implement large-scale programs to develop Sri Lanka’s agriculture to cope with a future global food crisis that could result from the coronavirus epidemic.

He said that by encouraging local food production, the country can strongly face the global food crisis.

The Premier has instructed the Commissioner of Agrarian Services and the Department of Agriculture, including Agriculture Officers to facilitate the cultivation of every inch of land with a focus on home gardening as well as large scale cultivations.

The President has instructed the officials to take necessary measures to issue the necessary fertilizer and seeds from the Regional Agrarian Service Centers to encourage home gardening and provide the necessary advice to the public through the Divisional Agriculture Officers.

The Prime Minister also urged all Sri Lankans to wisely utilize the time they are spending in their home in the face of the coronavirus epidemic for gardening to be prepared for a future food crisis and also to support the government’s coronavirus prevention programs.