President kicks off Divi Neguma Phase 5

Saturday, 12 October 2013 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday presided over the commencement of the Divi Neguma National Program Phase 5 at the auspicious time of 10:11. Parallel to this event, a program to plant vegetable seeds and fruit, coconut, herbal and other plants in 14,022 Grama Seva Divisions and establish 125,000 Divi Neguma model home gardens also began countrywide. Agricultural and Production Research Assistants based in Department of Agrarian Development Centres have coordinated in identifying these Divi Neguma model home gardens.

The First Phase of 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. 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 Phase 1, one million household economic units were targeted and it received a strong positive response from the people. Phase 4 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.