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Plantation sector eyes $ 600 mn revenue in 2022

31 Mar 2022

Plantation Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said on Tuesday (29) that the plantation sector is expected to earn around $ 600 million this year. He was speaking at the opening of the Spice House and the new Information Centre by the Department of Export Agriculture in Ukuwela, Matale. Further expressing his views, the Minister said Sri Lanka earned $ 450 million last year from the export of minor export crops including cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom.  “We can no longer ignore the minor export crop sector. Therefore, the present government led by President Gotabaya Rajapaksa is making great efforts to further increase this revenue in the future. Last year, we earned $ 12 billion from all sectors of the pearl, gem, apparel, and plantation industries. Thirty percent of that export income is earned by the plantation industry. If there is a positive trend, the plantation sector is expected to earn over $ 600 million this year,” he added. The Minister added that the country earned $ 450 million from the exportation of minor export crops including cinnamon, pepper, and cardamom last year.  “In addition to the main crops, there is a good demand for kithul (palm syrup) in the world. But we did not know about it. For the first time in history the present Government took steps to gazette the kithul tree as a plantation crop. Also, kithul has been awarded the Sri Lanka Quality Certificate. Steps will be taken to regulate kithul products in the future,” he added.  The Minister further stated that the country will be able to earn a large export income in the future by exporting palm syrup products. The Minister also introduced a new variety of cardamom named “Ranweli Yasas Sri” and provided subsidies to spice growers in the area.


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