Acute shortage of cinnamon peelers

There is an acute shortage of cinnamon peelers. This has worsened after the Tsunami as peelers have migrated to other jobs in the construction industry, Chairman of Spice Council Sarada de Silva said at the launching of the model cinnamon processing center in Kosgoda recently.

The Spice Council has proposed that a crash programme to train peelers begin immediately and five members of the Ceylon Cinnamon Association, Kahawatte Plantations have offered their facilities to conduct this training. It is now up to the Department of Export Agriculture to start the training, he said. Cinnamon peeling was done in unhygienic conditions on the floor for centuries. This GMP Model center is a project of the Spice Council to upgrade cinnamon processing to meet ever-demanding international food safety standards he said.

The project was approved and supported by National Council for Economic Development (NCED) Export Cluster.

The total cost of the project is over Rs. 3 Million excluding the value of land. As a proposal of the NCED in the 2005 National Budget and it is being funded partially by the Export Development Board in Rs. 1 million.

Though a project of the Spice Council it has been taken forward and implemented by the cinnamon entrepreneurs who develop this center spending over Rs. 3 million and to a level well exceeding GMP standards required. Under this project organisations, such as Department of Export Agriculture could use the center for research. Those involved in the production of cinnamon can learn from this model center and establish their own GMP centers.

Adapting GMP standards will enable Cinnamon producers to obtain higher prices for their Cinnamon at the international market. Peelers will be able to work under good working environment he said. (AS)