Govt. asks CTC farmers to plant maize with tobacco

The Ceylon Tobacco Company (CTC), on a request made by the government, says it has agreed to cultivate maize as a sub-variety along with its tobacco cultivation.

The company said in a statement that at a briefing held recently, it was pointed out that the country spends huge amounts of money to import maize, when it can be easily grown within Sri Lanka in most parts of the country. The government requested all farmers, in particular the tobacco farmers to help grow maize along with their main crop, to help the country to be self sufficient in maize, CTC said.

According to the Leaf Manager of CTC, Dr. Rukshan Gunatilaka the new proposal of planting approximately 150 ha of maize initially by tobacco farmers was communicated to the Government.

CTC’s agreement to grow maize in its cultivating areas by 10, 000 farmers includes the districts of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Monaragala, Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, and Matale.