Pepper exports from Sri Lanka likely to increase

Members of Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders' Association (SAPPTA) are pleased to learn from a press release issued by Director Export Agriculture Department Dr. Ilangasinghe that an allocation of Rs. 80 million has been received from the State to enhance the development of agricultural export crops.

A new investment aid system enabling the farmers to obtain plants and other essentials free soon as the land is prepared for crop cultivation, will also be introduced.

Past Chairman of SAPPTA and the convenor of the sub committee on pepper Gulam Chatoor is of the opinion that there is a great demand for pepper from Sri Lanka with no problem in marketing the spices in the world markets.

Exports of pepper from Sri Lanka, he said have been in the region of around 7500 tonnes as against the world trade of around 200,000 tonnes, hence there is considerable scope to increase the volume of pepper exports, in particular.