Technical knowledge must to protect coconut cultivation – minister

Thennakoon Bandara, Monaragala Daily News corr

Coconut cultivators should have a technical knowledge to protect coconut cultivation as the cultivation is prone to destruction, Coconut Development and Janatha Estate Development Minister Jagath Pushpakumara said.

The minister was speaking at the Sevanagala Agrarian Service Centre to distribute Peramon Trap Buckets among coconut cultivators in the Sevenagala Divisional Secretariat area recently.

The minister said in the previous two years, the Coconut Cultivation Board achieved its targets due to the services by coconut development officers and other officers in the Monaragala district.

He said 7,442,277 coconut saplings were distributed in the district in 2012 under the Kaprukapurawara National Programme.

Pushpakumara said coconut cultivation directly contributes to the country's economic development.

“We should protect the cultivation by supporting and encouraging cultivators,” he said.

The cultivators also participated in a practical session regarding the destruction caused by Red Beetles (Rhychophorus Ferrygineus) and other insects to the coconut cultivation in the session organised by the Monaragala Coconut Cultivation Board.

Four thousand pheromone trap buckets were distributed free of charge among 2,267 farmers in the Sevanagala Divisional Secretariat area.

The Coconut Cultivation Board spent Rs 740,000 for the trap buckets.

Uva Provincial Council leader Wimal Galagamaarachchi , PC member Chandana Welivita, Sevanagala PS chairman and members , Monaragala Coconut Development Board regional manager M Jayanama coconut development officers, the Sevanagala Grama Niladari, Samurdi officers and other officials also participated.