Under this KOPIA project, farmers were requested to cultivate in large plots with deep plowing and to employ organic manure and transplanting mechanization. At the end of the first season, a remarkable increase in rice productivity has been observed.

As part of this project, a Korean mechanic expert visited Sri Lanka from 9 to 13 May this year. He demonstrated how to use the transplanting machine at the Rajanganaya farm village, and held a workshop at the RRDI Battalagoda, titled “How to Use Machine Transplanting Methods for Rice”, to educate farmers and agricultural officials how to lower labor force and improve rice quality through mechanization in the agricultural sector. The workshop also helped a Sri Lankan agricultural company, which showed a keen interest in purchasing the transplanting machines, to get information about agricultural machinery companies in Korea.

The project will also send two Korean rice experts to Sri Lanka for one month in mid July. They are planning to share their expertise in crop and post-harvest management of rice. Meanwhile, two Sri Lankan officials in the agricultural sector will be invited to visit the National Institute of Crop Science, RDA, South Korea from 30 July to 5 August, to participate in a training program on high-quality rice production technology.