Minister blames officials for pest spread

Chaminda PERERA

Agriculture Development Minister Hemakumara Nanayakkara said yesterday that Agrarian Services Department officials should take the responsibility for spreading the mealy bug menace to six provinces.

According to the Minister, the Department had not taken effective measures to counter this disease when it was first reported from Katana and Seeduwa in June last year and the department had taken two months to conduct initial investigations into this matter.

"They have not made use of the Department's resources to publicize precautionary measures introduced by agriculture researchers. The people do not know what should be done to eradicate this menace," he said.

The Minister ordered a full report from the Director General of the Agrarian Services Department on how the department tackled this issue. The Agriculture Development Officer and Agrarian Services Centres officials have not been properly educated on what steps should be taken to eradicate this pest, he said. The officials' negligence and lethargic attitude have caused this situation, he said.