Divi Neguma aims to provide toxin-free home gardens
Wednesday, 22 October 2014 00:01
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Minister of Economic Development Basil Rajapaksa stated that the objective of the Home Gardening Program of the Divi Neguma National Campaign is to increase nutrition in the family by creating toxin-free home gardens, participating at the inauguration ceremony of the 6th Phase of the Home Gardening Program of the Divi Neguma National Campaign.
Planting was commenced at the auspicious time of 10:07 a.m. at a ceremony held in the home garden of M. Balachandra Gunaratne of Heenatiyana, Katana. The occasion also marked the distribution of agricultural implements and Divi Neguma Sahana Aruna credit facilities to those engaged in self-employment.
The Minister added: “We are witnessing the inauguration of the 6th Phase of the Divi Neguma national campaign. Concurrently, the President is participating at a similar ceremony at this moment. Various kinds of plants will be planted in 14,000 Grama Niladhari Divisions and 48,000 ceremonies held island-wide with the participation of 2.5 million families under the Divi Neguma national campaign.
“We initiated this program in 2011 under the patronage of the President in Matara. Today, one sector of the program has been inaugurated. We are distributing seeds of different varieties such as vegetables, fruits, coconut, minor export crops, etc., which will be planted at the same time, affording opportunity to each and every family to make full use of their home gardens.
“When agriculture is expanded as a commercial venture, various countries in the Western world resorted to application of chemical fertilisers and various other tactics to increase yields, however the objective of the Divi Neguma Program is different. Even if the yield is less, we want to grow our food crops in our home gardens without adding chemicals, so that our families could be supplied with toxin-free, nutritious food items.”
