Sri Lanka encourages home gardening as Covid-19 takes toll
“To address the future demand for fruit and vegetables, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Agriculture introduced a home gardening programcalled SaubhagyaGewatta (Prosperous Home Gardens),” Perera said. The program aims to develop one million home gardens.
Economy Next
Dec 19, 2020
Excerpt:
A 75 percent of Sri Lankans are ready to continue the lifestyles taken up under the harsh conditions of COVID-19 enforced lockdowns during which many moved to home and rooftop gardening, SumedhaPerera Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture said.
“Sri Lankans have changed their attitudes and practices along with the effect of COVID-19 outbreak,” Perera said speaking at a panel discussion organised by Ceylon Chamber of Commerce.
“According to a recent research conducted by a group of Social Scientists of University of Ruhuna, it is found that nearly 75 percent of households are ready to continue activities initiated during the pandemic in post COVID- 19 period, including home gardening”.
About 46 per cent of households have understood that they were wasting foods and consumables.
According to reports world-wide people took up hobbies and home gardening has been a frontrunner.
The Ministry of Agriculture has introduced an initiative to boost this trend – SaubhagyaGewatta (Prosperous Home Gardens)
“To address the future demand for fruit and vegetables, the Sri Lankan Ministry of Agriculture introduced a home gardening programcalled SaubhagyaGewatta (Prosperous Home Gardens),” Perera said.
The program aims to develop one million home gardens.
Saubhagaya program has distributed 1.9 million seed packets during last Yala 2020 and expanded to 2.0 million in the on-going Maha 20/21.
