Home gardens to be transformed under National Home Gardening Programme

By Lahiru Pothmulla  

Basil Rajapaksa, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Economic Revival and Poverty Alleviation, said that under the National Home Gardening Programme, 2.4 million home gardens will be transformed to crop cultivation and farming.  

He was speaking at a discussion held at Temple Trees last morning with government officials involved in the National Home Gardening Programme, the Prime Minister’s Media Division said.  

The programme is aimed at building an economically, socially and environmentally prosperous country to make the concept of a productive citizen and a happy family a reality.  
The National Cultivation Programme will also be implemented this Maha season giving priority to the development of the home economy while implementing large scale development programmes.  

The identification of home gardens has already commenced through the Grama Niladharis, Samurdhi Officers, Agrarian Research Officers, Economic Officers and Family Health Services Officers.  

These home gardens are supervised by five committees at the national, provincial, district, divisional and rural levels. 

The programme also focuses on domestic poultry management, goat management, facilitation of fish farming in freshwater lakes, estate reservoirs and backyard ponds, and the development of the domestic dairy industry

 
Vegetables, fruits, herbs and spices, export crops and all types of plants are provided for selected home gardens under this category and priority is given to the most productive plants suitable for each area.  

The programme also focuses on domestic poultry management, goat management, facilitation of fish farming in freshwater lakes, estate reservoirs and backyard ponds, and the development of the domestic dairy industry.2.4mn home gardens are to be transformed under the National Home Gardening Programme.