Spice Council to initiate cinnamon peeling training

BY ANJANA Samarasinghe

THE Spice Council has now taken the initiative in formulating plans to set up a cinnamon peeling training center in the Galle district. They are seeking government's assistance in obtaining cinnamon land to set up the center.

This was made known at the launching of the revive project for tsunami affected cinnamon peelers which was held in Balapitiya recently.

At the outset Spice Council with the assistance of the USAID funded program provided 75 cinnamon peeling kits and 15 newly developed Cinnamon peeling tables and chair units for tsunami affected cinnamon peelers and producers. USAID funded Rs 1.8 million for the project.

Chairman of the Spice Council Sarada de Silva said that they will monitor the progress of the recipients over six months through their field officer.

During his visit he will identify the number of peelers and producers affected by the tsunami. We will make fresh proposals to project on behalf of the people who were not covered in the previous survey.

Nearly 60% of the Cinnamon production comes from down South, de Silva said.

Secretary of Ceylon Cinnamon Association Prof. Jayasiri Lankage said the industry should modify to attract more young people. 'Most of the cinnamon is used for medicines and producing essences. Cinnamon peeling methods should be hygienic to gain more markets.

We need to open training centres to introduced hygienic peeling methods to the peelers and a peeler could earn Rs 15,000 per month if he adopts good peeling methods; he said.

The recent survey done by GTZ revealed that 124 peelers,226 producers,16 producers and four nurseries were affected by the tsunami.