Ramya Horticulture excels in strawberry cultivation

The Government of Sri Lanka has accorded considerable importance to fruit cultivation and in recent years, efforts have been made to encourage projects in that important segment of the agricultural sector. Hence a number of such projects have developed under the aegis of the BOI, the investment promotion agency of the Government, which is responsible for the attraction and management of Foreign Direct Investment and Local Investment.

There are currently 59 BOI agricultural projects in commercial operation of which 20 are in fruit cultivation. It is important to note that these projects are involved in sectors such as fruit processing, fruit juice, bottle and canned fruits which are aimed at both the domestic and export markets.

Recently, Chairman/Director General of the BOI Dhammika Perera had identified strawberry cultivation as one sector with potential to become a major foreign exchange earner. Investors were therefore encouraged to invest in projects in the cultivation of fruit.

Since many of these future projects would be located outside the Western Province, they would qualify for the incentives awarded under the BOI's Nipayum Sri Lanka (also known as the 300 Enterprise Programme) which has created opportunities in outlying regions. In addition if they are established in the Eastern and Northern Provinces, such projects would benefit from the additional incentives scheme developed by the BOI to uplift the two conflict affected provinces.