Report on the homestead tree census : Mahaweli system B -- 1993/94 & 1994/95

Some of the more important species cultivated under the project are coconut, mango, lime, mandarin, teak, and hamilla. This paper reports on the status of homestead trees in System B in 1993/94 and 1994/5. First, the report provides a baseline on the numbers of trees, ha, and species of trees currently found on homestead lands in System B. To this end, field workers walked house to house in each unit of System B to count the trees on each homestead; results indicate that this resource is fully exploited by System B settlers. Second, the report provides the details from settlers on the benefits received from the MEA nursery. Of particular interest to MARD is the number of trees distributed after 1991, when the propagation program became a formal part of the MARD project. Data gathered from settlers indicate that the MEA nursery has made a significant contribution to overall homestead development, especially with its distribution of fruit trees.