Cinnamon Training Academy to be set up

Anjana Samarasinghe

AGREEMENT: The Spice Council (TSC) has entered into a subsidy agreement with Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (PMSME) project which is assisted by GTZ to establish Cinnamon Training Academy (CTA).

The total cost of the project is Rs. 20 million. PMSME provide Rs. 15 million for the project and the balance funds will be provided by TSC, Export Development Board (EDB) and Department of Export agriculture along with cinnamon processing. Revolving fund for the CTA is Rs. 5 million.

The main objective of the CTA is to overcome the shortage of cinnamon peelers and enhance standards of local cinnamon in the international market.

Chairman of the TSC Sarada de Silva said CTA will provide training on cinnamon peeling and cinnamon plantation management.

The proposed CTA will consist with auditoriums, lecture rooms and goods manufacturing process units.

The CTA is intended to conduct an initial two-month training course for 50 producers and to produce nearly 300 qualified people for the industry each year.

They also expect to organise a campaign to promote the CTA among youth.

The construction work of the CTA is delaying due to lack of sufficient land. TSC lobby for nearly 12 acres land of owned by the government in the Hikkaduwa AGA division.

"We expect to start the construction work at the, end of this month" he said.