From battlefield to paddy field – A green revolution with ex-veterans

The Presidential Task Force for a Green Economy along with the Ranaviru Seva Authority that operates under the purview of the Defence Ministry has launched ‘Ranabimen Govibimata – Sarupase Peraliya’, a programme to empower the military community to produce organic fertilisers and related products.

Beneficiary communities of the Ranaviru Sena Authority, retired military personnel and their close relatives, have been encouraged to get involved in this programme to ensure a fertiliser-free national economy, as envisioned by the President’s ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ manifesto.

Even though there are around 47,000 beneficiary families of the Ranaviru Seva Authority, plans are underway to spread awareness on this project to families that are interested on a short-term basis. Attention has been given to military families in every district and preparations are underway to provide initial technical training and awareness on the project to military personnel.

As an initial step around 500 military personnel from selected beneficiary families of the Ranaviru Seva Authority representing the seven districts have been identified to produce organic fertilisers as a mode of self-employment.

The main objective of the Presidential Taskforce for a Green Economy is to strengthen the organic fertiliser production programme initiated by the Agriculture Ministry, thereby presenting a fertiliser-free economy and a healthy generation to society. The process involves the contribution of ex-veterans, who served their motherland to further strengthen a fertiliser-free economic revolution. Following a message given by the President to the Agriculture Ministry, the Ranaviru Seva Authority made arrangements to extend its services to the production of organic fertilisers and related products.

The project also aims to uplift the income status of ex-veterans, who have served their motherland by transforming them into small-scale entrepreneurs. Funds and facilities for the project will be provided by the National Enterprise Development Authority to empower beneficiary communities of the Ranaviru Seva Authority and engage in micro, small and medium-scale enterprises.

Loan schemes are being provided by Bank of Ceylon and preparations have been made to execute the programme targeting the military community at district level, with the collaboration of the Agriculture Ministry, NEDA and Small Enterprise Development Unit. The pilot project of this programme was initiated at a farm producing organic fertilisers and related products operated by a disabled soldier in Hakmana, Matara on July 20, 2021. The military community in Matara participated in this programme.

The second programme was held at the government farm in Labuduwa, Galle, targeting retired military personnel on July 27, 2021. Around 50 differently-abled ex-veterans also participated in this programme and the Ranaviru Seva Authority aims to empower them as entrepreneurs.

The programme also aims to engage retired military personnel and close relatives of ex-veterans, who have sacrificed their lives in the battlefield, as means of strengthening the capacity of the Ranaviru Seva Authority officials at provincial and district level to make this project a success. Future programmes will be held in the Gampaha, Kegalle, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Kandy districts during the next two weeks.