The 1000 Tank 1000 Village program is operative targeting development of several sectors of the agricultural industry. This is considered to be one of the main projects of the eighteen schemes operatives under the agricultural development plans "We Eat What We Cultivate."

According to the statistics on minor irrigation maintenance there are 37,928 proposed minor irrigation schemes and 12,500 are proposals for restoration. Agriculture Ministry says 2,055 tanks are currently abandoned and also 1,578 anicuts.

Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed the Agrarian Development Department to arrange for the rehabilitation of these abandoned reservoirs and anicuts within the next 3 years. The program is to be implemented under the program "1000 Tanks - 1,000 villages" program commencing yesterday.

Minister Amaraweera said the government will take steps to fund the project on the instructions of the President Maithripala Sirisena. The government has allocated Rs. 9 billion for the purpose. Initially it is planned to develop 370 tanks. The target of the effort is to re-develop 1000 villages in affiliation to 1000 tanks this year. The Minister has also instructed the Department of Agrarian Development and Department of Agriculture to make the "We Eat What We Cultivate" program to grow crops on all arable land in the island a success.