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| Tuesday, 16 March 2004 |
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Serendib focuses on new horticultural plants to meet export demand by Steve A. Morrell Production of hybrid seed and plant breeding to develop new varieties of horticultural plants will be the main focus of Serendib Horticultural Research Laboratories (Pvt) Ltd. The Company ( Serendib Horticulture Technologies (Pvt) Ltd.) was set up at the time Ceylon Tobacco Company Ltd. divested their equity, in the foliage business and in 1999 Serendib Horticulture Technologies (Pvt) Ltd., took over control. The horticulture and floriculture business was already a thriving off- shoot of Ceylon Tobacco's main business. It was therefore a period of trial for Dilip de Silva, its Managing Director, to identify himself in the trade and stabilise his capacity to continue when he took over controlling interests, he said. The main focus of Serendib laboratories, at Pepiliyana, is to carry out research and produce new varieties of foliage, and floriculture plants to meet the demand of the export market. During the company's four-year existence production doubled, and international supply points have reported that produce ex this supply line have been well received. "Although we have reached this position, the export market is a discerning one, and as we do not have new plant varieties for export, we decided to produce new plant strains, de Silva said. He said that South East Asian countries such as Malasiya, Singapore and Vietnam, have produced many new orchid varieties, which have resulted in their floriculture industry being a major income earner. The growing need was for research and development of new strains, he said. It was also clear that unless this was done, demand would be static and could result in demand moving away from Sri lanka. The new products and new strains developed are being done in consultation with the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, and the Department of Agriculture, active resource consultants, who have to date experimented in producing plant material through tissue culture. Tissue culture would help double able production of plant volume and facilitate company targets in a short time. Hybrid vegetable seed planting material too was in short supply, although there was a steady demand for seed. Hitherto vegetable farmers had to depend on imported seed at high prices, for their requirements of vegetable production especially for growers in Welimada, Kandapola, Nuwara Eliya and Ragala. This need could be met when seed and planting material could be supplied ex these nurseries. Plans were also in place to implement a student exchange program where young people from European countries could visit and work in these nurseries for short periods. Such input could be beneficial to those employed here, de Silva said. The company has set up bio-tech centres, in Mahailluppallama and Matale to produce disease tolerant seed material. Hybrid tomato and chilli seed production have also begun. |
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