International Pepper Conference begins

Some highlights of the event Pictures by Chaminda Hittatiya

The 40th International Pepper Conference began at Mount Lavina hotel in a bid to iron out several global key issues in the industry. Sri Lanka produced 26,500 tons of pepper last year and earned US$ 30.7 million as pepper export revenue.

Pepper is cultivated over an area of 32,800 hectares in the island with Matale, Kandy, Kegalle, Kurunegala and Nuwara Eliya being major districts of cultivation.

The International Pepper community (IPC), established under the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for the Asia Pacific (UN-ESCAP) is consisted of several countries including Brazil, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, the major Pepper producers of the world are permanent members of the conference. The 40th International Pepper Conference will be held until November 2, in collaboration with Sri Lanka Ministry of Minor Export Corp Promotion.

Basil Rajapaksa, Minister of Economic Development participated as the chief guest at inauguration ceremony of 40th International pepper community conference held at Mount Lavinia. Reginald Cooray, Minister for Minor Export Crop Promotion, Vajira Narampanawa, S. Kannan, Executive Director of the International Pepper Community, WDL Gunaratne, Director General Department of Export Agriculture and Other senior government officers among the large crowd of foreign participants on the occasion.