President to kick off Divi Neguma Phase 5 on 11 October
Thursday, 3 October 2013 00:01
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Phase five of the Government’s Divi Neguma National Program will commence with the planting of trees islandwide on Friday 11 October at the auspicious time of 10:11. President Mahinda Rajapaksa will preside over the tree-planting campaign which will cover 14,008 Grama Seva areas in 324 Secretarial Divisions, targeting the Maha Season.
The First Phase of the Divi Neguma program – the theme of which is a prosperous motherland – was launched in March 2011 with the objective of reviving and strengthening the economy by raising family incomes. Today it is successfully operating at both rural and urban levels and in plantation areas under Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa’s direction in accordance with a concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksa.
Eighteen Ministries have directly contributed to this program which has been divided into three sections – Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries and Cottage Industries.
Under Stage Five a program for establishing 125,000 model home gardens will also commence. Agricultural and Production Research Assistants based in Department of Agrarian Development Centres have coordinated in identifying these home gardens. Steps have been taken to distribute free 1.4 million sets of vegetable seeds and 2.3 million fruit plants, coconut plants, herbal and other plants among selected household units covering all Grama Seva areas.
Over 2.5 million people are participating in the Divi Neguma program the progress of which is already being monitored by Economic Development Officers and Grama Seva Facilitators. This has caused vegetable prices to go down and more nutritious food available to consumers. The consumption of fruits and vegetables per person has increased as a result.
At the First Phase one million household economic units were targeted and it received a strong positive response from the people. The Fourth Phase was launched on 22 October 2012.
The Malwatu and Asgiriya Chief Prelates and other religious dignitaries have greatly appreciated the success of the Divi Neguma National Program, which they say can make a major contribution to the development of the national economy.
Further information on the Divi Neguma National Development Program can be obtained by contacting the Agricultural Research, Economic Development or Samurdhi Development Officers in the respective areas. Technical guidance can be obtained by contacting the Agricultural Instructor or Govi Sarana Sahana Service on 1920.
