The first batch of Sri Lankan organic sour bananas cultivated in Jaffna will be exported to Dubai on 28th April 2023, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera stated.
According to Daily News, the Minister stated that the first batch will consist of 25,000 kilos of organic sour bananas cultivated on 350 acres in Jaffna.
“600 farmers are engaged in sour banana cultivation in Jaffna and the cultivation is to be expanded to another 650 hectares,” he said.
Speaking to the media yesterday (11), Minister Amaraweera said sour bananas grown in Rajangana have been exported 18 times under the programme.
The programme was launched to establish sour banana export zones under the technical and financial contribution of the Agriculture Sector Modernization Project under the Agriculture Ministry.
He further stated that arrangements have been made to establish a sour banana export zone in the vicinity of Embilipitiya and Hambantota this year.
The minister also said that Rs.150 million has been allocated for the establishment of a banana processing centre in the Sevanagala area, while a banana processing center has been established in Rajanganaya and the work of the processing center in Jaffna has already commenced.
Minister Amaraweera pointed out that the export of sour bananas in Rajanganaya will earn Sri Lanka USD 20,000 as export income a shipload, and the export of bananas in Jaffna will earn the country USD 40,000 weekly. (NewsWire)
