Mug of rice porridge to school students instead of glass of milk: Ministry of Agriculture

COLOMBO (News 1st): Plans are underway to provide a mug of local rice porridge to school students instead of the glass of milk provided at present, the Ministry of Agriculture said. "Health authorities have informed that providing a mug of rice porridge is beneficial to health in many ways," Major General (Retd.) Sumedha Perera, the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Mahaweli, Rural Development & Irrigation said on Friday (Aug 28). According to the Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, there are about 10,000 acres of paddy cultivated using organic fertilizer instead of chemical fertilizers. "Thereby, plans are underway to purchase the rice from farmers at a higher price and provide a mug of porridge to school children," Major General (Retd.) Sumedha Perera further added.