Plans to export minor crops

P P G Sugathadasa, Thihagoda group correspondent.

The Export Agriculture Department plans to export around 50,000 metric tons of minor export agricultural crops this year, Director General W D L Gunarathne said.

He said cinnamon, pepper, coffee, nutmeg, vanilla, citronella, cocoa, arecanut, cardamom, cloves and betel are included in the crop categories.

"Of all these, cinnamon brings the highest foreign exchange into the country. These crops are successfully cultivated in 14 districts. Cinnamon is mainly grown in the Southern region and in Kalutara, Ratnapura and Badulla districts.

Pepper, cocoa, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg are under cultivation in Moneragala, Kurunegala, Nuwara -Eliya. Kandy and Matale districts," he said.

New cultivation, recultivation, production promotion, and productivity promotion of quality crops come under the promotional projects, Gunarathne said.

Instructions and technical know-how to boost these cultivations are provided by the Department free.