Four million coconut plants grown under ‘Divi Neguma’

Tuesday, 12 March 2013 01:07 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Nine million coconut plants were newly-planted last year, out of which four million were planted under the ‘Divi Neguma’ national program, making it record success in coconut cultivation in recent times.

Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa has instructed his officials to work together with the Coconut Development Ministry to sell coconuts to the public at reduced prices through 350 ‘Divi Neguma’ New Year fairs to be held in every main town from 5 to 12 April in connection with the coming Sinhala-Hindu New Year.

Under ‘Divi Neguma,’ two coconut plants will be given to each family. In other words, three million plants will be given for cultivation in home gardens up to an extent of two-and-a-half acres. With these additional three million plants the total cultivation is expected to become 9.5 million plants this year.

This was discussed at a meeting of Coconut Development Ministry Senior Officials and representatives of 16 Ministries belonging to the ‘Divi Neguma’ Operational Committee at the Economic Development Ministry to focus on the ‘Divi Neguma’ National Program 2013 under Minister Rajapaksa’s direction.

In view of rising coconut prices and since coconut as a food requirement is equally important as rice to the public, ‘Divi Neguma’ organisers decided to distribute coconut plants and fertiliser among the people. The program has been launched on the advice of President Mahinda Rajapaksa under Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s direction with the assistance of Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara.

The coconut plants will be distributed among family units selected under ‘Divi Neguma,’ giving them the opportunity of meeting their coconut requirements from home gardens and of earning an additional income. Since the plants are obtainable from and distributed through State institutions, the project has been fully successful, according to Minister Rajapaksa, who said that the distribution has to be done after correctly identifying the needs of each family unit.

According to a recent census, the Coconut Development Ministry has identified a total of over 44 million coconut trees, out of which 40 million are fully grown trees. The number of small coconut trees is four million. The Ministry has already taken steps raise people’s living standards by boosting coconut-related industries such as coconut oil production, manufacture of doormats, brooms and handicrafts via the ‘Divi Neguma’ National Program.

Among those who addressed the meeting were Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Ministry Secretary Nihal Somaweera and Economic Development Ministry Additional Shantha Bandara, etc.