Cinnamon Training Academy: Pathway to a future career

Sri Lanka’s cinnamon is an important export commodity which plays a vital role in the rural economy, providing revenue and employment to approximately 400,000 people. Although Sri Lanka is one of the biggest cinnamon exporters globally, it is facing a dearth of trained personnel and GMP certified centres to meet its future growth plans. The Government’s ambitious plan for larger cinnamon exports is positioning the sector as an attractive employer for job-seekers seeking stable and fairly paid job after gaining specialised skills.

The establishment of the Cinnamon Training Academy (CTA) marks a pivotal step towards enhancing an industry in which Sri Lanka has a competitive edge. CTA aspires to be a centre of excellence, among many services, through its training programs for the cinnamon industry, an advantage that can be availed of by new recruits. 

United Nations Industrial Development Organisation in coordination with The Spice Council (TSC), Department of Export Agriculture, Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission and Export Development Board, has developed a National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) for cinnamon Factory operations and Field operations and Competency-Based Training (CBT) framework, which provides a nationally recognised and certified workforce for the industry. 

The course content is programmed to build competencies in performing different tasks identified for cinnamon factory and field operations accredited under the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission (TVEC). This training is a pioneering and unique effort of the stakeholders in the spice industry, focused to establish a unified cinnamon growing and processing system. The training programmes will also support the industry to enhance quality and food safety compliance to Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures, which are mandatory in the high-end markets that Sri Lanka is targeting.

A CTA student Ganga Jayalath comments, “Although I gained adequate knowledge about cinnamon harvesting and processing after working for several years in the industry, I was unable to achieve any recognition or career progression without a formal certification to prove my skills. However, CTA has changed that situation. Once I complete my training at CTA, I will receive an accredited certificate, which will help my career progression and I could even go on to certify as a trainer in the industry.” 

Kusuma Jayasinghe, an Instructor at CTA says, “Today, we make cinnamon with traditional technology which, although hygienic, does not meet the high standards in some global markets. However, at CTA, we teach students about new technology in the cinnamon industry and train them on how to produce the highest quality Ceylon Cinnamon. If we can grow and process cinnamon with this new technology, we will earn more foreign exchange for the sector, which will enhance the status of its workforce. In order to attract more cinnamon workers, an insurance scheme is being proposed through CTA to further upgrade their benefits.” 

CTA is playing a pivotal role in fostering the Ceylon cinnamon industry as well as retaining and attracting more workers by promoting new job opportunities and enhancing working conditions by delivering systematic training with a nation-wide accepted certification, so that the workers too take pride in working for an industry which is an agricultural and economic mainstay of the nation.

In conclusion, Rajiv Walawage from Imaduwa, Galle, and currently employed at K.T.J. Kumara Ltd., added, “When I enrolled in CTA, I had no idea about cinnamon or how this training would contribute achieve gains in my employment. However, in the very short time I have been here, I have learnt the entire process – from the nursery stage to the exporting stage. The CTA training program is very useful and it has provided me with comprehensive training and certification. Training at CTA has truly been a great experience, as the instructors here at knowledgeable and very supportive.” 

On completion of the training at CTA, successful trainees can expect to be absorbed immediately into the cinnamon sector in which CTA plays also a major role.

For more details please contact the Assistant Coordinator of Cinnamon Training Academy at Railway Good-shed Road, Kosgoda, Balapitiya or call on 091 3080795 or email to [email protected].