• Project to be rolled out in Kandy, then dozen more districts
• First container to be shipped in 1Q 2021

The Agriculture Ministry yesterday said Rs. 700 million has been allocated for 2,000 families to cultivate fruits for the export market with the aim of uplifting the economy of the poor farming community.

Accordingly, it has been decided to provide assistance of Rs. 500,000 per family in Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Udunuwara and Hewaheta electorates in the Kandy District through the Innovation Project implemented with the assistance of the World Bank, the Ministry said in a statement yesterday. 

The specialty here is the cultivation of these products directly for the export market.

Under the project, the farmer will be provided with highly productive plants that meet foreign market demand, drip technology and the technical knowledge and understanding required for a high quality product. Also state-of-the-art Processing Centres will be set up for value addition of the harvest.

Banana, guava, pineapple and avocado fruits will be cultivated for export purposes under this project.

Representatives of the Dole Company who met the Minister of Agriculture Mahindananda Aluthgamage at the Ministry of Agriculture agreed to create a foreign market for the produce of these farmers.

Under this, agricultural products will be exported to the Middle East and the Philippines.

The project will also be launched in 12 more districts in Sri Lanka. Work has already commenced in five districts.

The first fruit container is set to be exported in the first quarter of next year.

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