Palmyra seed planting program under way

Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Minister Douglas Devananda inaugurated the one hundred thousand palmyra seed planting program in Jaffna which is jointly sponsored by Palmyra Development Board and World Food program. The inaugural ceremony was held at Chunnakam Skandhawarodhaya College grounds. Minister Devananda planted the first palmyra seed close to the college area participating as the chief guest.

Moves are under way to plant 8 million palmyra seeds in Mullaithivu, Kilinochchi and Jaffna, according to Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry Secretary Sivagnana Sothi.

The Minister said the Government has allocated Rs. 30 million to develop the palmyra industry in the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Under a ten-year palmyra development project plans are in place to increase the number of palmyra trees from 11 million to 16 million in the North.According to statistics available there are 3.5 million palmyra trees in Jaffna, 3.5 million in Kilinochchi and 3 million in Mannar. - MN