Funding from potential NGOs called for:

Orchids for export market ensured

Ramani Kangaraarachchi

The Rural Horticulture Development Project (RHDP) will ensure an export market for Orchids, Advisor to the President on Horticulture and President, Lakmalsala, Exotics and Orchids Co-operative Society Ltd, L.S. Wanigatunga told Daily News Business.

He said that there was tremendous potential for Orchids in the export market but the supply is insufficient.

Therefore, the RHDP will grow Orchids in all cultivable areas up to 3,500 ft. above sea level to ensure an equal supply round the year, which is a prerequisite to establish an export market.

Sri Lanka can earn an attractive amount in foreign exchange through Orchid exports while providing self-employment to the rural community.

The project which was implemented two years ago in Medamulana, Weeraketiya in the Hambantota district has been very successful so far, he said. Wanigatunga said that Orchids are grown mainly within 50 kilometres from Colombo and the weather conditions in this area are the same for all growers at all times.

Hence, there are ups and downs in Orchid production in the country.

Therefore, the participants of the project will be selected from Samurdhi beneficiaries, non Samurdhi beneficiaries and for similar income groups and members of the Thrift and Credit Cooperative Societies and other community based organizations.As the project site is the home garden, most of the participants are women.

Twenty persons from each group will be selected and the know-how on growing Orchids will be given to them.

Every grower will be given 250 Dendrobium seedlings and 50 Mokarq, Vanda and Aranda seedlings along with wire mesh, fertilizer, shady net and sprayers.

Project officials visit the gardens every week at the beginning and thereafter once a month.

Three villages will be completed under the project annually. Lakmal Sala purchases all the flowers.

The total cost incurred on the project in the first year was approximately Rs. 19,640 per participant and in the second year it will be Rs. 19,025 per participant.