Annual Report 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

1 | DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVESBox 1.9Divi Neguma – An Initiative To Empower One Million Home Garden EconomiesThe government, recognizing the vulnerability of SriLankan households to an impending global food insecurityand environmental challenges, launched the establishmentof one million domestic economic units under the “DiviNeguma” (Livelihood Upliftment) programme on 12March 2011 in line with the 2011 Budget proposal. The“Mahinda Chintana – The Vision for the Future”, alsohas emphasized the need to promote agriculture aimedat improving livelihood, rural development and foodsecurity. The objectives of the Divi Neguma programmeis to strengthen the people economically, minimizetheir dependence on the market for food requirements,improve the nutritional level of the families, and help thehouseholds be self-sufficient. The programme operatesunder the theme “A Self Reliant Household - A WonderfulMotherland” and represents Sri Lanka’s own tradition ofmaintaining home gardens and producing daily needsfor being self-sufficient thereby serving as the basisfor a righteous society with the objective of ensuring aprosperous nation.The Divi Neguma programme will encourage eachhousehold to use their leisure hours and other resourcesto grow fruits, vegetables, flowers as well as maintainbackyard livestock at household level for their ownconsumption and to share the surplus with neighbours.It will also help people to add more fresh vegetablesand fruits into their diet as well as to increase theconsumption of milk, eggs and other animal productsthereby improving nutritional level. The programme willalso help make new income sources to families by sellingexcess produce and create new entrepreneurs at villagelevel. The increased domestic agricultural productionwould lower the pressure on prices that arise due tosupply shortages.Overall, the government expects toassist the people to expand their livelihoods and make anenhanced contribution to the national economy throughthis programme.Under the Divi Neguma programme, 100 households arebeing picked up from each of the 14,000 Grama Sevakadivisions in the country to enroll in this programme, atask that has been entrusted with government officialsworking at grass-root level; the Grama Niladhari, theSamurdhi Officer, the Agrarian Services Officer andTable 1.42 > Divi Neguma ProgrammeType of Plant Planned No. of Plants Estimated Average Acreage Estimated Output (MT)FruitsMango 1,000,000 25,000 125,000Papaya 1,000,000 3,000 15,000Banana 1,000,000 3,000 18,000VegetableTomatoes 5,000,000 500 3,000Brinjals 5,000,000 650 5,850Chili 3,000,000 275 275Coconut 2,000,000 31,000 77,500,000Source: Ministry of Economic Development98