Saturday, 10 May 2014 00:19
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Minister of Economic Development, Basil Rajapaksa stated that the Divi Neguma National Program should in the future ensure building up domestic economy in the same way it was instrumental in ensuring stability of food prices and improving nutrition in the families.
The Minister added that this national program implemented under agricultural, livestock, fisheries and enterprise development sectors in several phases since 2011, has been thoroughly successful.
This was so stated by him at a discussion with state officials including the secretaries to the ministries, held recently in the Ministry of Economic Development to present the future action plan of the Divi Neguma National Program.
The Minister explained that if and when it is necessary to maintain the price of any product, practice followed was to import that item, remove any taxes imposed on that item or resort to substitutes. However, it was possible under the Divi Neguma Program to maintain the prices of vegetables and eggs at a minimum level without resorting to above mentioned practices.
Further, various programs were undertaken by the Government to safeguard farmers. It was revealed at this discussion that around 13 million packets of seeds were distributed for home gardens during five seasons since 2011 in addition to various projects implemented in the agricultural sector, including distribution of 11 million fruit plants, 6 million coconut seedlings and construction of 5,960 secured mesh houses.
During the last three years, 2,621 units of dairy cow and 5,834 cattle sheds were constructed under Divineguma in the livestock and fisheries sector.
Further, 1.5 million chicks have been distributed in addition to 6,536 pens and 5,044 goat keeping units. Under Divi Neguma, the aquatic resources sector, 6,510 projects have been completed covering various sectors such as ornamental fish breeding, fish breeding in ponds for consumption, fish breeding in occasional water bases, fish breeding in estate reservoirs, sea bass fish breeding and production of fresh water steamed fish.
Training required for starting small industries were afforded to 22,852 persons selected during enterprise development exhibitions organised at district level under Divi Neguma in the enterprise development sector and 18,781 persons out of these selectees have been provided with the required implements to commence industries.
Assistance has been provided for the sectors such as pottery, coconut coir industry and textile industries in addition to kitul-based industries.
Senior Ministers Athauda Seneviratane, S.B. Nawinna, Milroy Fernando, A.H.M. Fowzie and Ministers Rajitha Senaratne, Nimal Siripala de Silva, Douglas Devananda, Rishard Bathiudeen, Reginold Cooray and Deputy Ministers Muthu Sivalingam, Susantha Punchinilame, M.L.M. Hisbullah and officials including the Director General of Divi Neguma Department, R.R.A.K. Ranwaka participated at this discussion.
