Grow fruits targeting the export market 2,000 families will receive Rs. 700 million

In order to uplift the economy of the poor farming community in 4 electorates (Nawalapitiya, Gampola, Udunuwara and Hewaheta) in the Kandy District, a sum of Rs. 700 million (aid of Rs. 5 hundred thousandper family) was provided to 2000 families for the 'cultivation of fruits for export market' and it has been decided to doin a so-called manner through the 'Innovation Project' implemented under World Bank Aid. The specialty here is the cultivation of these products directly for export market.

It is also planned to provide the farmer with technical knowledge and understanding required for high quality products, drip water technology and plants with yielding capacity to produce high quality production that can meet the demand of foreign markets.

Under this, 4 well equipped State-of-The-Art Processing Centers will also be set up for those electorates towards suitable supply chain for those products.

Under this project, fruits like banana, guava, pineapple and avocado will be cultivated for export purposes.

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 products of these farmers. Under this, agricultural products will be exported to the markets of Middle East countries as well as the Philippines.

The project will also cover 12 more districts in Sri Lanka. Under this, work has already commenced in 05 districts. All arrangements are being made for its first fruit container be exported in the first quarter of next year.