Sri Lanka’s President pushes to promote pepper cultivation as a major export crop
President of Sri Lanka Gotabaya Rajapaksa has reportedly stated said that the Sri Lankan government is looking at promoting pepper cultivation as a major export crop.
The President has said that India is the major buyer of pepper from Sri Lanka and other countries.
According to local media reports, India purchases pepper on a quota basis and increasing the quota given to Sri Lanka is one of the key elements of the strategy.
The President has further noted that steps will also be taken to identify new markets for local pepper and that farmers are encouraged to export pepper as a finished product.
According to Rajapaksa, more revenue could be earned by exporting pepper in packets and developing new pepper based products to the world market.
Issues faced by the pepper cultivators were presented to President Rajapaksa when he had participated at a public gathering held at the Godakawela Pradeshiya Sabha grounds, Ratnapura.
The President had reportedly responded positively to these issues and had explained that new plans were in place to develop the industry.
The people have also requested the President to establish an Organic Fertiliser Plant and a seed production facility, to which the President has responded by directing the relevant officials to investigate and prepare a report in this regard.
OSL take:
The directive of the Sri Lankan President has made pepper a crop with much business potential. Authorities are looking at promoting pepper as a major export crops. Sri Lanka’s exports sector has many business/investment opportunities given the focus on the promotion of the country’s export sector. Sri Lanka’s geographical positioning in the Indian Ocean, ease of doing business environment and the many trade agreements as well as trade concessions enjoyed by the country have made the country a business hub in the South Asian region.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/23072020/Z_2 |