Measures to increase chilli production

Ishara Mudugamuwa

The Agriculture Department has taken measures to develop chilli cultivation in Sri Lanka with the objective of reducing imports, an Agriculture Department official said.

Total annual requirement of chilli for local consumption is 40,000 mt. There are 15,000 chilli cultivated lands in Sri Lanka which produces 13,000 mt per a year and the department will take measures to increase it up to 18,000 mt within two years.

There are 50,000 families in Sri Lanka depending on chilli cultivation and chilli based productions.

Though the Department produces nearly 15 percent of high quality chilli seeds, this amount is not enough to meet the local chilli demand. So farmers are compelled to buy low quality seeds from private companies, official said. He also said that the department has already provided high quality chilli seeds for farmers. Farming facilities have been uplifted and training programs have also been started for farmers to provide technical guidance on producing high quality seeds.

The department has selected special areas at village level to develop chilli cultivation to encourage farmers to cultivate chilli on their lands, he said.

The Agriculture Department hopes to reduce chilli imports by 40 percent within two years by developing cultivations, he also said.