The Agriculture and Agrarian Insurance Board has commenced providing new insurance coverage for goats alongside a number of activities related to the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka. 

Chairman of the Board M. M. B. Weerasekera informed the Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera in this regard last week (30) while briefing about the future activities of the Agricultural Insurance Board.

According to the Sunday Observer, the government has made arrangements to provide insurance for goats provided under the program of granting 70,000 goats in the next five years.

The government has allocated Rs. 150 million this year for the program of providing goats free of charge, while an insurance scheme is to be introduced to grant insurance for the distributed goats.

Measures have been taken to insure goats which generally cost around Rs. 100,000 with an annual insurance contribution of Rs. 400 to provide maximum compensation in case of theft or sudden death of the goats.

The Chairman of the Agriculture and Rural Insurance Board further stated that the insurance scheme for goats has been introduced alongside the free insurance provided to the farmers for six types of crops. (NewsWire)

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The Ministry of Agriculture is taking measures to introduce goat farming to unemployed youths in rural areas of Sri Lanka, it was reported.

According to Daily News, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweeera said that 70,000 goats will be distributed to unemployed youths in rural areas and those interested in goat farming.

Pointing out that goat farming is not conducted on a large scale in Sri Lanka at present, resulting in goat meat and goat milk being imported from foreign countries, he said a high income can be obtained from goat skin and producing goat manure.

Minister Amaraweera further said that thereby, the Agriculture Ministry has decided to allocate Rs. 150 million this year for the goat farming project in order to get additional sources of income.

He went on to state that the youths will be provided with high-quality goats and the technology required for goat management as well as to buy back products related to goat farming. 

Several suitable goat breeds such as Jamanpari, Kottukachchi, Boer and Sanan which can generate more income have been identified for this purpose, he said. 

Stating that by the end of this year, 70,000 goats will be provided, the minister revealed that the aim is to further increase the amount in 2024.

The Agriculture Minister stated that a few districts with space for goat management will be selected for the project to be launched, adding that Private sector support is also to obtained. 

Minister Mahinda Amaraweera made the remarks during a discussion held with a group of officials, including the Minister of State for Rural Development Kader Mastan, at the Ministry of Agriculture. (NewsWire)

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