Sri Lanka identifies 5,000 acres in North and East for sea cucumber cultivation

Eyeing a US $ 1 billion export income, the government has identified 5,000 acres of lands for investors to set up sea cucumber production and export villages in the Jaffna, Mannar, Kilinochchi and Batticaloa districts.

Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda this week sought the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers to expand the on-going sea cucumber cultivation project in these districts by establishing 100-acre sea cucumber production and exporting villages.

Accordingly, one-acre sea leech cultivation farms to be established for every 100 acres.  
The National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka has already initiated a commercial sea cucumber cultivation project. 

Agriculture and of Wildlife and Forest Resources Conservation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera highlighted that there’s a growing demand for sea cucumbers in Japan, China and South Korea.

As the market price per one kilo of sea cucumber remains at around Rs.40,000, the minister noted that the country could earn US $ 1 billion in export revenue, if the project is effectively implemented.