Improvement in betel exports

Irangika RANGE

EXPORTS: Betel export has shown significant improvement with the setting up of the Janatha Appaladeniya Agrarian Business Company in Kurunegala which has been able to earn Rs.18.5 million by exporting nearly 110 metric tonnes of betel to Pakistan from March this year.

The Government is very keen on promoting betel cultivation and export expansion. Ministry of Agricultural Development has set up the Appaladeniya Betel Export Centre investing Rs. 22 million to enable the farmers to handle modern day marketing activity.

Centre comprising betel purchasing, betel processing, betel packaging, quality checking, retail outlets would drive more betel to the export market.

It is not only betel exports but tambourine, turmeric pressed coconut and cinnamon will also be processed for the export market through this centre later.

Ministry with the assistance of the Export Agriculture Department is involved in export expansion activities.

The Ministry has provided a 50 percent fertilizer subsidy for the benefit of betel farmers. The Narammala Betel and Other Inter-Crop Research Station holds training programs while extension officers conduct betel demonstrations islandwide.

Minister Chamal Rajapaksa said that the "Bulath Arunella", a national program to promote betel cultivation in the country has overcome many hardships of betel farmers who undergo many hindrances.

"We need to promote the local betel industry to boost export income to the country under the FTA of Pakistan and Sri Lanka because Pakistan is the major buyer of Sri Lanka" betel, he said.

Over 9,000 betel farmers in Kurunegala and Gampaha districts are represented in the Janatha Appaladeniya Agrarian Business Company and they have suffered many problems such as lack of storage facilities to store betel and lack of space to maintain the office.

Minister said that the Ministry has understood this situation and this export complex will vastly enhance betel transactions in the local market and in the international market.

He said these betel farmers were able to perform strongly after they were mobilised by the company. He said if the farmers join forces, they can overpower their hardships. They can bargain for high prices too," he said.