Rajanganaya sour plantain growers earn USD 28,000 from exports in six months

By Ifham Nizam

The Rajanganaya Ambul Kesel (Sour Plantain) Plantation has earned USD 28,000 by exporting their produce in the first six months of this year.

Agriculture, Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera yesterday said that the Project, which is being implemented under the Agricultural Sector Modernization Project (ASMP), established to modernize Sri Lanka’s agriculture under World Bank assistance, was a huge success.

This cultivation has been established, targeting the international markets, and the project has also provided scientific and technical training to farmers in all aspects; harvesting, packaging, etc., according to international standards.

This plantation supplies 152,264 kilos of high quality sour plantains to the local market annually. It also supplies several foreign countries, and one metric tonne is sold at prices between USD 600-700, according to Project Director Rohan Wijekoon.

At present, 642 farmers, in Rajanganaya, have been selected for this cultivation and 160 have already started cultivation. The objective of this project is to engage all selected farmers to undertake sour plantain cultivation.

“It is difficult for the farmers to get income due to the traditional framework of agriculture, the Minister said. However, he said the ability of farmers to get high income, even with limited space, by using modern technology and new seeds, is clearly evident through the Rajanganaya Ambul Kesel Project, he added.

Minister Amaraweera recently visited Rajanganaya to review the progress of the project. SLPP MP Duminda Dissanayake and Project Director Dr. Rohan Wijekoon also participated in the event.