By: Staff Writer
Colombo (LNW): The Agriculture Ministry has decided to set up a third sour banana export processing factory at Muravesihena in Hambantota.
While addressing a discussion at the ministry, Agriculture Minister Mahindra Amaraweera said arrangements have been made to start the third sour banana export processing zone covering Embilipitiya, Hambantota and Sewanagala by cultivating 800 acres at a cost of Rs. 65 million.
The first sour banana export processing zone and processing centre were established in Rajanganaya. The second sour banana export processing zone has been established in Jaffna.
The Ministry has taken measures to expand sour banana cultivation on 800 acres in Rajanganaya and 400 acres in Jaffna.
At present, an exporter in Dubai has come forward to export pumpkin, cassava and some other vegetables in addition to sour bananas from Sri Lanka.
In the third sour banana export processing zone, 800 farmers will be selected and given the high density cultivation method for banana cultivation, technology and technical equipment, business opportunities to buy the harvest of the plantation, all under the guidance of the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project.
Arrangements have been made to export 25,000 kg of organic sour bananas from Jaffna to the Dubai market each week.
Sri Lanka exports 12,500 kg of sour bananas from the Rajanganaya Sour Banana Project to the Dubai market every Saturday.
Currently, two banana export model villages, Rajanganaya and Jaffna, have been established by the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project under the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Ministry of Agriculture has decided to establish two more banana processing zones aimed at export in Embilipitiya and Sevanagala areas as there is extensive banana cultivation in those areas.
In addition, Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has instructed to establish these two banana export model village projects at the request of banana farmers in Sevanagala and Embilipitiya.
Accordingly, it has been planned to cultivate the Cavendish banana species in the Sevanagala area and the Sour banana species in Embilipitiya and Hambantota areas.
Both these crops will be cultivated in a total of 400 acres, 200 acres each in the beginning and then the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project plans to expand it to 800 acres.
Under this, the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project will provide farmers, who are selected for the project to cultivate bananas, with the agricultural technology and modernization program needed to grow banana scientifically and in accordance with the international market standards, as well as the foreign market intended for exports.
Apart from this, the project will also provide financial support to the farmers for cultivation, the project director Dr. Rohan Wijekoon said.
