‘Sri Lanka has potential to be a hub for horticulture’
Indunil Hewage
Serendib Horticulture Technologies, who has embarked on overseas
ventures had now consolidated its operations in Rwanda. Over the past 9
months, the company has exported over 500,000 fruit plants to Rwanda.
These are mainly local varieties of fruits, Serendib Horticulture
Technologies Chairman Dilip de Silva said.
Some of the local banana varieties that had been exported has now
begun to bear fruits and it is deemed to be of superior quality to the
local varieties available in Rwanda. The company has established a
demonstration plot along with the American collaborating company, which
is an example for the farmers to follow.
The company also displayed some of the Sri Lankan products at an
exhibition recently held in the capitol city, Kigali. The company has
been hired as consultants to set up a tissue culture laboratory in
Rwanda in collaboration with the American company.
We are also looking at possibilities of expanding into neighboring
countries like Burundi and Uganda. Discussions are underway with these
countries for expansion of the industry, Silva said. The company’s
presence in the Middle –East is growing with project in
Qatar, with the Ministry of Environment. It is now looking at a long
term partnership with the ministry. Silva said it is very likely that
the company will sign an agreement for this very soon. The company has
also been approached by two other companies in the Mid-East to establish
biotechnology centers. Discussions are underway at the moment he said.
The company has started working with the farmers in Northern Province
through the Provincial Directors office in Jaffna. Fruit plants are
being distributed through the provincial government network. The company
is also looking partnering South Eastern University on plant
biotechnology through a donor agency. We are interested in transferring
knowledge to the Northern and the Eastern provinces, so that the farmers
in those areas will benefit directly through these production facilities
Silva said.
“For the horticulture industry to progress, we need the support of
the government. Most companies who are engaged in horticulture
floriculture are now in the stage of expansion. If the government can
support these industries, it’s likely that we could be a hub for
horticulture in the region,” Silva said. |