Export crop cultivation will soon be promoted in the island. Cinnamon, cardamom, cocoa, coffee, pepper, nutmeg, vanilla, citronella, cloves, betel and areca nuts will be given top priority under the project, while cinnamon will be considered the prime crop.
Cinnamon is cultivated in 14 districts and bags a high income to the country. The districts in which it is cultivated are Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Kalutara, Kegalle, Ratnapura, Kurunegala, Kandy, Badulla, and Matale.
Around 4,000 hectares will be utilised for the project; and measures have been taken to carry out productivity promotion projects, with the objective of expanding them even further. Farmers will be provided with modern equipment and technical knowledge to carry out their work free-of-charge by the Export Agricultural Department.
The department aims to export around 40 kilotonnes of crops within a year under the project and furthermore, the National Cinnamon Research and Training Station in Palolpitiya has planned several cinnamon nursery projects as well.
