Divineguma distributed 4.2m coconut saplings

Sandasen Marasinghe Irangika Range and Disna Mudalige

Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara said in Parliament yesterday that 4.2 million coconut saplings have been handed over to farmers under Divineguma project to increase the coconut harvest in future.

Minister Pushpakumara further stated that measures have been taken to provide nine million coconut saplings for farmers next year.

The minister also said that the disease which affected coconut trees in Weligama area in 2008 has no remedy.

He added that the Kerala coconut plantations too have been found to be affected by this disease long time ago.

They too found that there was no solution or cure for this disease.

He also said more than 75,000 affected coconut trees were uprooted during this year to prevent the spread of this disease. He said only 17,000 affected coconut trees were removed from 2008 to 2010. He made these observations in response to a question raised by UPFA MP A H M Azwer.