Uplift for livelihoods of five million families

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The Economic Development Ministry has planned to uplift the livelihood of five million families under the fourth phase of the Divi Neguma National Programme to obtain their contribution to the development of the economy.

The ministry also made arrangements to obtain the support of other state institutes as well in this endeavour, ministry sources said. All home gardens will receive 10 varieties of seed under this programme. The seeds have already been distributed among District Secretariats while 500,000 drumstick saplings will also be distributed throughout the country, the sources said.

The government will also give priority to coconut cultivation islandwide under the Divi Neguma programme.

Arrangements are in place to distribute two coconut saplings to each home garden.

All measures are in place to grant coconut saplings to those who have over 2.5 acres. The sources said the government will distribute around four million coconut saplings under the fourth phase of the Divi Neguma programme to cultivate 62,500 acres .

The Economic Development Ministry also plans to distribute seven million fruit saplings, one million minor export crops and 400,000 cashew plants.

The ministry has made arrangements to establish a model home garden in all Grama Seva divisions to encourage and make the public aware of this programme.