The Project implementation meeting for the KOPIA funded project “Establishment of chilli production model villages by increasing chilli hybrid seed production” was held on 24-01-2024 at the auditorium of the Extension and Training Centre. The meeting was co-chaired by Mr.H.M.S.P. Herath, Addl. Director General(Development) and Mr.Kang Chulgoo, Director, KOPIA Centre. The approved project budget is one million USD, which is the highest project budget received for a KOPA project. The project expects to increase the chiili production through the increased use of promising chiili hybrid MICH HY1,released by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) and expects to reduce the dry chiili imports to the country. The expected savings of foreign exchange by reducing dry chilli imports is 11 Mil USD.  The project activities have been initiated and it will go until year 2026. The meeting was attended by many senior officials of DoA and the KOPIA Centre.