Shot in the arm for local fruits

by L.S. Ananda Wedaarachchi

A project to upgrade and popularise fruit cultivation was launched under the patronage of Agriculture Development Minister Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena, said Ministry Secretary Wijeratna Sakalasooriya.

He said that the three-year development project will change the present consumption pattern of local fruits. The annual import costs of fruits such as apples, grapes and oranges run into billions of rupees.

The Agriculture authorities are partly responsible for this scenario. People have no knowledge of the nutritious value of local fruits such as mangoes, guava, banana, papaya and other varieties. Imported fruits such as apples, grapes, peaches, pears and oranges are highly contaminated with chemicals. Imported fruits take a long time to reach consumers, the Secretary said.

Novel methods of fruit cultivation, short-term fruit crops, post harvest procedures and a scheme to popularise local fruits will be introduced under the newly fruit promotion and research project.

The project is headed by a senior administrative officer who had conducted research on fruits.

There is a considerable waste in the harvesting of local fruits especially mangoes due to the use of conventional methods. The new technology is, therefore, vital to protect the harvest, the Secretary said.