Divi Neguma new crop gains in high yields

Tuesday, 26 February 2013 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Harvesting the yields of the 500,000 moringa oleifera plants, being distributed by the Economic Development Ministry, among the Districts under stage three of the Divi Neguma National program, has now commenced.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa on 22 February examined the yields of the short murunga plant which the President planted at the Ministry of Finance and Planning Treasury premises.

Moringa oleifera which can be harvested within six months was introduced by Basil Rajapaksa under the Divi Neguma National program to meet the Government’s objective of encouraging people to lead healthy lives by consuming nutritious food, free of poisonous chemicals.

The crop also known as ‘miti murunga’ has become popular because it is easy to grow and easy to sustain. Introduced to Sri Lanka from South India 13 years ago, it can be grown in tropical climates and is a favourite food of people in the Middle-East which has become the main market for this crop grown in Sri Lanka.

Although the plant grows easily in the island’s dry zone, it can also be easily grown in all areas of the low country from Jaffna to Hambantota, according to the Agricultural Radio Service acting Director Hiran Peiris.

According to him it is best to grow it in areas where water flows rather than in places where water gets collected. The plant yields throughout the year and contains many nutrients our bodies need for healthy growth, he says.

Among them are vitamins A,B and C, potassium, carbohydrates, calcium, phosphorus, sodium, iron and magnesium, all of which are found in the leaves and pods of this murunga plant, which Basil hopes to popularise throughout the island.

Already the required numbers of plants have been sent to the Colombo, Gampaha, Ratnapura, Galle, Hambantota, Batticaloa, Ampara, Vavuniya, Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi Districts. In addition to these, Divi Neguma has received requests for 714,319 more plants.

Those who require such plants should send their requests to Divi Neguma Director, Economic Development Ministry, 464A - TB Jayah Mawatha, Colombo 10.