Shortage of peelers hampers cinnamon industry

Cinnamon: The Spice Council (TSC) has proposed to establish a cinnamon peelers training academy in Sri Lanka.

Chairman of the TSC Sarada de Silva said the local cinnamon industry has a shortage of cinnamon peelers. The main objective is to attract youth into cinnamon peeling and educate them on correct peeling methods.

De Silva said the cinnamon peelers training academy will cost around Rs 30 million and GTZ has pledged to provide 75% of the total cost. The Council also expects to fund the project.

We have requested from the government to provide balance funds needed for the project and now we are waiting for a favourable reply from the Government. Members of TSC and the Ceylon Cinnamon Association will provide the land for the project, he said.

According to de Silva if the industry has sufficient cinnamon peelers Sri Lanka could earn 30% more from the total cinnamon exports. Sri Lanka exported 12603 MT of cinnamon last year. The total export earnings recorded as USD 50 million in 2005 and it was USD 46.7 million in the corresponding year.

Due to the shortage of peelers many estate owners and small cinnamon producers face difficulties in cinnamon processing. Four peelers are needed to process the cinnamon harvest from one acre of cinnamon land he said.