## Mahaweli Authority Farms to be Leased to Farmers and Agri-Entrepreneurs 📈

The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a strategic shift in managing Mahaweli Authority farms, prioritizing local farming communities and young entrepreneurs over private-sector investors to boost productivity and rural livelihoods. • Strategic Shift: Moving away from the 2022 private-investor model, the government will now lease 17 state-owned farms to local farmers while retaining full state ownership of the land. • Sector Focus: Seed Paddy & Crops: Irrigated lands will be leased on a seasonal basis via auctions for seed paddy production and supplementary food crops to ensure national food security. Livestock: Underperforming animal production units (unprofitable for 3+ years) will be leased to entrepreneurs for a maximum of 3 years under a regulated system. Land Utilization: Underdeveloped highland areas and low-yielding permanent crop lands will be subdivided and leased based on yield potential and income assessments. • Economic Objectives: Convert state farms into economically viable units. Meet national seed paddy requirements and improve overall agricultural productivity. Attract youth into the agri-entrepreneurship sector and raise living standards within Mahaweli zones.