Divi Neguma ushering in agricultural era: Basil

Monday, 14 October 2013 00:05 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Divi Neguma national program, which is aimed at reviving and strengthening the economy by raising family incomes and providing people with better nutrition, will help to usher in an agricultural era as in the ancient past. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa said this at the ceremony held to launch Divi Neguma Phase Five on Friday 11 October. The event commenced with the planting of a seedling at the auspicious time of 10:11 a.m. looking towards the north. The meeting was held at the residence of farmer M.K. Bandara of Mabodala, Veyangoda. Parallel to this event a program to plant seedlings and fruit, coconut, herbal and other plants in 14,022 Grama Seva Divisions and establish 125,000 Divi Neguma model home gardens island-wide also commenced. 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.

Minister Rajapaksa added that after restoring peace following the defeat of terrorism everyone had cooperated with the Government’s objective of ensuring food security and eliminating poverty. The First Stage of the Divi Neguma program – the theme of which is a happy family and 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 Minister 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. The Minister further said that farmers have been provided with all subsidies and relief since Divi Neguma has given priority to food security in accordance with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana’. He also distributed seedlings and equipment self-employed persons require for their work. Western Province Chief Minister Prasanna Ranatunga said that the Government’s far-sighted policy had helped to prevent a food crisis in Sri Lanka at a time when other were countries were facing such a situation. Gampaha District MP Ruwan Ranatunga, Western Province Chief Minister Nimal Lansa, Gampaha District Secretary J.J. Ratnasiri and Minuwangoda Pradeshiya Sabha Chairman Padmakumara Arangalla were among the large crowd that attended the ceremony.