Govt. to link big firms with ‘Divi Neguma’ to boost fruit and vegetable exports

Friday, 4 May 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Government is exploring the prospects to link big firms with participants of the ‘Divi Neguma’ home-based entities to boost fruits and vegetables exports.

A meeting to this effect as well as assess the status of the agribusiness industry was held recently by the Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa.

He said that there was a surplus of rice and vegetables in the country now and steps would be taken to export them to boost income.

He said this came as a result of agricultural development programs implemented by the Government.

Minister Rajapaksa also pointed out that the reason for excess food production was due to home gardening process by the public under the ‘Divi Neguma’ initiative of the Ministry. He requested vegetable exporters to take necessary measures to export such excess vegetables under a linkage program.

Government sources said vegetable farmers associations had said that there had been record harvests in all regions of the country including the north and the east due to the conducive weather experienced in the country.

Quality seeds provided by the Government and the support extended for home gardening have contributed to the surplus in vegetables and the vegetable prices have come down in the market as a result.

According to the Minister, excess food items are already being used for food processing programs and also being exported to foreign markets.

The Minister has called on the vegetable exporters to take necessary steps to export the excess vegetables in the country.