Lands for fruit and vegetable cultivation
Special scheme to release NE property:
Indunil HEWAGE
All the uncultivated lands in the Northern and Southern provinces are
to be released in three to four months to the private sector for
vegetable and fruit cultivation. Measures are also being taken to
increase the quantity of Sri Lankan fruit and vegetable production to be
more competitive in the world market.
Sarath de Silva |
“The Economic Development Ministry has established a special scheme
to release these lands for fruit and vegetable cultivation. Accordingly,
we hope to make use of around 50,000 acres of uncultivated lands in the
Southern province for the cultivation,” National Chamber of Exporters of
Sri Lanka President Sarath de Silva told Daily News Business.
Boost for fruit and vegetable cultivation |
Recently the Government has allotted land in rural areas for the
private sector to revive the agriculture industry. Several companies
have submitted applications to the Economic Development Ministry and to
the Board of Investment to obtain these lands to commence cultivation.
It is also planned to utilize uncultivated lands in the North Central
Province to grow onions, potatoes and red chillies as the country spends
Rs 3.5 billion to import these three food items annually.
He said Sri Lankan vegetable and fruits need to be high-tech and
organic in order to increase production quantities. Private sector
investments in the vegetable and fruit production sectors have to be
encouraged to achieve US $ 20 billion total exports revenue target in
the country. “Sri Lanka’s fruit and vegetable industry has been earning
around Rs 3000 million annually. But we do not have sufficient
production to export our products.
We need to increase our quantities to acquire a satisfactory share in
the world market. In addition a 80 acre new farm in Hambantota has been
set up to cater to the demand of increasing tourists arrivals to the
country and surplus production in the farm is to be exported,” Silva
said. |