Monday, 23 September 2013 01:04
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The Government plans to increase the extent of cocoa cultivation in the hill areas and a proposal put forward by the Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion Reginald Cooray to proceed with the program has received Cabinet approval.
Cultivation of cocoa, which was introduced to Sri Lanka by the British in 1834, has been established as a mixed crop with rubber and coconut on the central hills of Matale and the Uva Wellassa areas in Sri Lanka.
A new rubber cultivation program that is underway using 5,000 hectares in the Uva Province has created a favourable environment to commence growing cocoa as a mixed crop.
The project aims to ensure the maximum utilisation of existing lands while maintaining ecological balance in the respective zone to increase the extent of cocoa cultivation up to 3,000 hectares and the cocoa harvest up to 5,550 metric tons by 2020.
The program will proceed with the close collaboration of the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Rubber Development Department.
