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By Shirajiv Sirimane

Pineapple is the third largest export demand agricultural product after tea and coconut but Sri Lanka is not in a position to meet the growing demand for the export market.

According to Working Director Mahaweli Livestock and Agro Enterprises, Mervyn Goonawardene there are only around 3,000 medium Pineapple growers and 8,000 small time growers in Sri Lanka. "But their production is not enough to cater to the local demand."

Goonawardene said that the main reason for the low production of Pineapple is the scarcity of pineapple suckers (plants). He said it is very unfortunate that there is adequate land, manpower and even financial assistance for this industry. "However, without suckers the industry cannot grow."

He said that this problem is being addressed right now and the Plant Genetic Research Institute at Peradeniya and the Southern Development Authority have introduced 'Tissue Culture' and 'Gouging' methods to overcome this problem.

The Director said that there are two common varieties of Pineapple, Mauritius and Kew that is grown in Sri Lanka. "The quality of Sri Lanka's pineapples is much superior to the quality of Pineapples that are grown in Philippines, Thailand and other countries. But Sri Lanka is not even in the World Pineapple export market since our production is low."

There is a growing export market for Sri Lanka's pineapples from the Middle East and Europe.

He said that the bulk of the Sri Lanka pineapple exports is from the Gampaha district. "But there is great potential in the North Western Province and the Minister of Irrigation and Water Management Gamini Jayawickrema Perera, has exploited the situation and is promoting the growing of pineapples in the province."

He said that the Minister has also taken a step in the right direction by introducing Pineapple as an inter crop within Coconut plantations. "The Minister has already written to the Coconut Growers' Association in this regard and the response is very good."

He said that after one month of cultivation pineapple could be harvested and thereafter every six months there is a yield for three ratoons (harvests.)

At present we only cater to about 50 percent of the country's pineapple requirement. Under the 'One Area One Product' program we will be able to provide financial and technological assistance to growers, processors and exporters in the area. That will encourage more people to invest in the pineapple production industry. The Industrial Technological Institute will support us in developing new technologies in the pineapple processing industry which would be very useful for investors," he said.

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