Boost for cashew cultivation

Raja WAIDYASEKERA - Tissamaharama Special Corr.

Sixty thousand cashew plants will be distributed among cashew cultivators in the Hambantota district.

The Rs. 9,500 subsidy per acre will be increased to Rs. 25,000, Cashew Corporation Deputy Chairman Priyantha Piyadasa said.

He said the motive behind this was to encourage cultivators in the Hambantota district to take to cashew cultivation.

He said that cultivators have been advised to grow green gram and ground nuts to derive an income till they derive an income from cashew cultivation.

He said it is expected to bring 50,000 acres of land under cashew cultivation by 2016.

He said the total requirement of cashew in the country is 14,000 tons but at present only 12,000 tons are produced here.