Exporting 2,000 MT plantains lost due to Agriculture Dept. negligence

• Accordingly, it was planned to export 2000MT of plantains to China per month at the rate of 500MT per week

By Indika Sri Aravinda   

It is reported that the agreement signed between China and Sri Lanka to export 2,000 metric tons of plantains per month has been lost due to the negligence of  top officials at the Agriculture Department.  

 The Department’s former Additional Secretary (Agriculture Technology), Dr. Subha Heenkenda said according to the agreement between the two countries, the details of 150 plantain farmers were given to the Chinese government, and a plantain packing centre had been established.   

The details included information about the address of the farmers, the type of plantains being cultivated, and the volume of fruits that could be exported.   
Accordingly, it was planned to export 2000MT of plantains to China per month at the rate of 500MT per week.   

The then former Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka made several requests to the Agriculture Department for nearly two years to implement the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the two countries in 2015, but the department had failed to furnish details of 150 plantain  growers.   

According to the agreement, organic plantains such as  (Embul), sour plantains, (Kolikuttu), and red plantains grown in Sri Lanka were to be exported under a special SL GAP (Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) code).   

However, the department’s high officials had lost the opportunity given by the Chinese government to export produce to China.   

A team of experts who visited Sri Lanka from China had conducted a detailed study to explore the possibilities of exporting fruit. The Department of Agriculture had arranged to hold a separate fruit exhibition.   

He emphasized that if the plantain export agreement had been implemented, the next step would be to export the consignment to the Chinese market. China was also preparing to implement an export agreement for mangoes, papaya and pineapples.   

As a country, it is extremely regrettable that the authorities are not acting to implement this agreement. He believes that such an opportunity was a once in a lifetime opportunity and expressed doubts if it would come our way again.