55 Division Troops Initiates a Pilot Project on Promoting Green Agriculture, Unity and Reconciliation Through Home Gardening

In line with the national policy of promoting Green Agriculture and on guidance of General Shavendra Silva WWV RWP RSP VSV USP ndc psc MPhil, Chief of Defence Staff and Commander of the Army and Head of the Green Agriculture Operation Centre (OAOC), 551 Infantry Brigade in collaboration with Zonal Education Office-Vadamarachchi initiated a Pilot Project under the theme of “Promoting Green Agriculture, Unity and Reconciliation through Home Gardening" under the instructions of Security Forces Commander (Jaffna) and GOC 55 Infantry Division on 13 January 2022 at the Zonal Education Office - Vadamarachchi premises.

In a charming ceremony attended by Mr. K Mahesan Jaffna District Secretary, Brigadier Prasanna Gunaratne- GOC 55 Infantry Division, Divisional Secretaries of Point Pedro, Karaveddy and Maradankeni, Commanders of 551, 552, and 553 Infantry Brigades, Vadamarachi Zonal Education Director and District Director of Agriculture, School Children from 12 schools in Vadamarachchi along with troops of 551 Infantry Brigade planted seeds and plants of different varieties of vegetables in a ‘Model Home Garden’ which will only use organic fertilizer and organic materials.

The intent of the project is to encourage home gardening to promote the concept of Green Agriculture through active participation of School Children of schools in Vadamarachchi by engaging them in home gardening with the use of organic fertilizer as a part of their school curriculum and practical training in the subject of agriculture.

The project further seeks support from Department of Agrarian Services and other relevant stake holders for a successful implementation and sustainment of the project through a wider participation to create a boarder awareness among the community.

Further few bags of ‘Pon Uram (Yalpanam)’; the organic fertilizer produced at the Organic Fertilizer Production Complex at Security Forces Headquarters (Jaffna) were handed over to School Children and Project Officials to symbolize the use of same fertilizer in the ‘Model Home Garden'.