FAO, China fund $ 1.5 m to strengthen fruit value chains in Sri Lanka

From left: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Sri Lanka Political Counsellor Chen Xiang Yuan, Agriculture Director-General Political Counsellor P. Malathi, Ministry of Agriculture Additional Secretary (Agri-technology) Dr. Shiromani Edirimanne, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan, Team Leader Dr. Dequan Sun and South-South Cooperation experts at the inception of the project to strengthen fruit value chains in Sri Lanka

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) initiated a $ 1.5 million project via funding from China as part of the South-South Cooperation (SSC) program, to improve the quality and value of Sri Lankan fruits in the global market by improving the production and commercialisation of fruit value-chains in Sri Lanka.

The project initiation was marked with a workshop held in Colombo. The interventions, implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of Agriculture, will focus on practical field-based training programs including the establishment of model fruit farms, and improving post-harvest handling, marketing, and commercialisation of the selected fruit varieties. 

The project which will be implemented in Kalutara, Gampaha, Monaragala, Anur-adhapura, and Kilinochchi districts will focus on productivity, production, and commercialisation of the fruit value-chains of three main Sri Lankan fruit crops – banana, mango, and pineapple.

FAO’s South-South and Triangular Cooperation Division Director Anping Ye appreciated the strong support by the Chinese Government and the concerted efforts made by all stakeholders in the project preparation and implementation. He also highlighted the important role of national ownership and strong leadership of the Government for the project success.

A team of nine Chinese technical experts have begun working alongside their counterparts from the Fruit Research Development Institute (FRDI) and the National Institute of Post-Harvest Management (NIPHM) of Sri Lanka to implement the program over the next two and a half years.

Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) Foreign Economic Cooperation Centre (FECC) Deputy Director General Lin Huifang, said the South-South Cooperation provides a fantastic approach to build partnerships. She asked the expert team to comply with the Tripartite Agreement (TPA) and give their best performance in providing technical support to Sri Lanka.

Ministry of Agriculture Additional Secretary (Agri-technology) Dr. Shiromani Edirimanne said: “This project has been designed to address the present issues of Sri Lanka’s fruit value chains through consultations with all relevant partners. This program represents a significant milestone in the development of Sri Lanka’s fruit production sector and is a testament to the strong partnership between Sri Lanka and China through FAO Sri Lanka.”

“All stakeholders including farmers, processors, and traders have a shared interest in improving the quality of fruit produced in Sri Lanka. Prioritising interventions such as these will lead to more efficient, resilient, and sustainable fruit value chains that are able to withstand not only environmental shocks but market uncertainties as well,” FAO’s Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan.

Sri Lanka has a rich diversity of fruits with approximately 100 edible fruit crops. However, the fruit sector remains underdeveloped. As a result, the sector suffers from poor cultivation and high post-harvest losses leading to low yield and inadequate adherence to international quality standards. This project aims to address such concerns and strengthen the fruit value chains in the domestic as well as export markets.