Divi Neguma moringa planting a major success

Monday, 31 March 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Harvesting the yields of 500,000 moringa oleifera plants the Economic Development Ministry distributed among people of different districts in the

island under the Divi Neguma National program has proved a major success. Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa yesterday examined the yields of this short murunga plant which President Mahinda Rajapaksa had planted at the Ministry of Finance and Planning – Treasury premises in late 2012. Moringa oleifera which can be harvested within six months has been introduced Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa under Divi Neguma National program to meet the Government’s objective of encouraging people to lead healthy lives by consuming nutritious foods free of poisonous chemicals. This crop also known as ‘miti murunga’ has become popular because it is easy to grow and easy to sustain. Introduced to Sri Lanka from South India 13 years ago, it can be grown in tropical climates and is a favourite food of people in the Middle East which has become the main market for this crop grown in Sri Lanka. Although this plant grows easily in the island’s dry zone, it can also be easily grown in all areas of the low country from Jaffna to Hambantota, according to Agricultural Radio Service Acting Director Hiran Peiris. According to him it is best to grow it in areas where water flows rather than in places where water gets collected. The plant yields throughout the

year and contains many nutrients our bodies need for healthy growth, he says. Among them are vitamins A,B and C, potassium, carbohydrates, calcium, phosperous, sodium, iron and magnesium, all of which are found in the leaves and pods of this murunga plant, which the Economic Development Ministry hopes to popularise throughout the country.