Fruit and vegetable exports perform well despite global downturn

"The export sector has done reasonably well considering the economic downturn in the world market," said the newly-elected Chairman of Lanka Fruit and Vegetable Producers, Processors and Exporters Association (LFVPPEA) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce. Sivagnanam Gnanaskandan, addressing the 31st Annual General Meeting in Colombo.

"Sri Lanka had $ 10 b in exports in 2011. In the first six months of 2012, export revenue dropped marginally by about three percent when compared to the first six months of 2011. The fruits and vegetables sector had a10.5 percent growth in 2010 and 2011. We had $ 36 m in 2011 and $22 m in the first six months of 2012."

"We will achieve at least three percent - five percent growth in 2012. The vegetables sector had a 18 percent drop during the first six months of 2012 compared with 2011. The fruit export sector had a 12 percent growth compared with 2011," said Gnanaskandan quoting EDB statistics.

Commending the Government's Divi Neguma program, he said that it has helped exporters to stabilise prices in the local market and that the country needs similar programs with large-scale investment and high quality production which would ensure a consistent supply which in turn would help Sri Lanka become competitive in the international market. The Divi Neguma program was launched in 2011 to set up one million domestic economic units, which would promote domestic agriculture projects to make households self-sufficient.

It has resulted in a positive outcome where mass scale cultivation, with access to ten selected varieties of seeds have been distributed to farmers. It is crucial that this output is connected to markets providing better livelihoods to people.