According to the Department of Agriculture, the consumption of fruits in Sri Lanka has increased to 12.8 million metric tons (1,283,039 metric tons) in the year 2023.
The annual requirement of fruits in this country is 19.6 million metric tons. (196,9371 metric tons).
When looking at the increase in the production of fruits in 2023, the increase in the production of bananas, mangoes, pineapples and papayas is notable, says the Department of Agriculture.
Apart from this, the export of fruits has also increased in the year 2023. Accordingly, 38,201 metric tons of fruits have been exported.
The Acting Director General of the Department of Agriculture Dr. Kamani Ranatunga handed over the plan prepared by the Department of Agriculture for the growth of the agricultural sector in Sri Lanka by 2027 to the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries, Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera.
By 2027, it is planned to increase banana production to 19.5 metric tons per hectare, mango production to 9.5 metric tons, papaya to 45 metric tons, pineapple to 14 metric tons and passion fruit to 30 metric tons.
Dr. Kamani Ranatunga stated that many technical measures have been planned for that purpose such as variety breeding, hybrid variety breeding, high density cultivation, integrated pest control, introduction of plant nutrients, and reduction of crop damage and introduction of value added production technology.
Meanwhile Minister of Agriculture and Plaantation Industries Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera instructed to take steps to cultivate all the crops that can be grown in the country and especially to take steps to produce the fruits that are imported into the country even though they can be grown in the country.
He also stated that it is a national responsibility to save the foreign exchange spent on importing fruits that can be grown in the country.
