<p></p><p>The Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation has expanded its cashew cultivation programmes in Anuradapura, Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu districts. According to N D Warushawithana, the Regional Manager of the Cashew Corporation, the cashew cultivation in Anuradhapura district has been covering nearly 6,000 acres specially in Mahawilachchiya, Medawachchiya, Mihintale, Thantirimale and Oyamaduwa areas. </p> <p>“We have started upgrading cashew cultivation in Mannar, Vavuniya, Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu in association with farmer organizations and experienced farmer leaders. The Finance Ministry has instructed the relevant authorities and district level institutes to investigate into production cost anomalies and the inefficiency in production processing for the purpose of remedying the expensive production cost. </p><p>The Anuradapura Additional Government Agent K B Hettiarachchi said the Agrarian Services Department in association with farmer organizations has embarked on organizing awareness programmes at the grass roots level for collecting necessary information and views of the farmers and officials with regard to the high production cost of paddy processing and marketing etc in this connection. </p><p> </p><br><p></p>