Modern technology will boost cinnamon prices, says don

Ceylon cinnamon will get a premium price in the international market only if the processing technology and cinnamon sheds are modernised and good agricultural and marketing practices are observed, said Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Ruhuna, Prof. K. D. N. Weerasinghe.

He was addressing a ceremony organised by U10, a company leading in value added cinnamon exports and committed to promote the spice industry of the country.

Prof. Weerasinghe said the technology for the cinnamon industry is primitive and has not been changed since it was introduced during the colonial era. Ceylon cinnamon, a unique brand is one of the oldest export items in the spice trade which began in the 16th century.

Cinnamon is the highest foreign exchange earner and the largest employer in the country's spice industry. Though Sri Lanka exports around 12,000 -13,000mt of cinnamon per annum and supplies over 90 per cent of the traded cinnamon worldwide the total exports meet only 20 per cent of the global demand.

Cinnamon which is considered the queen of the spice basket is predominantly cultivated in the Galle and Matara districts across 25,000 hectares. Cinnamon is also grown in the Kalutara district.

The major products of the cinnamon plant are quills and the preparation of it is a unique art in Sri Lanka, which accounts for over 80 per cent of the global production.

Despite the country's pride over a brand that has been in the forefront of trade, the problems that workers in the cinnamon industry undergo due to labour intensity and poor working conditions are not adequately looked into.

He said the low hygiene conditions and unhealthy working environment in the cinnamon industry are major obstacles to promote exports to the EU region which requires that all food and agricultural be ISO certified for safety and hygiene standards.

The poor post harvest processing technology, scarcity of skilled workers and low sanitary conditions are the primary reasons for the decline in value added production of cinnamon.

The grade of the product depends on the peeler. The scarcity of skilled peelers after the tsunami and the proportionate growth of the volume of cinnamon produced during the past five years has declined.

Chairman U10 Dr. I. R. Ferdinand said the company promotes going beyond the primary product to develop the value added segment of the finished products such as powdered, cut cinnamon, bark oil cinnamon or health capsules.

"U10 which comprises nine member factories has taken steps to uplift the cinnamon industry through the quality inspection and certification system. The company introduced the 'Certified Ceylon Cinnamon' logo to position the quality of products effectively in the international market.

LF