Coco yam, sweet potato and cassava not imported – Officials

The Agriculture Ministry drew attention to the statement made by a MP that vegetable and fruits, especially sweet potatoes, cassava and even Coco yam have been imported into Sri Lanka in the year 2022 at a cost of US$ 295 million.

Accordingly, Agriculture and Plantation Industry Minister Mahinda Amaraweera instructed the Agriculture Department to immediately give a report to the Agriculture Ministry regarding the matter.

A report prepared by the Social Economic and Planning Centre of the Agriculture Department was given to the Agriculture and Plantation Industry Ministry on Monday (4).

Accordingly, the report emphasizes that in the years 2020, 2021, 2022, no sweet potato, Coco yam and cassava have been imported into Sri Lanka.

But during the three years concerned, sweet potatoes, Coco yam and cassava have been exported from this country. Accordingly, in the year 2022, 1,203 metric tons of cassava, four metric tons of Coco yam and 81 metric tons of sweet potatoes have been exported.

Coco yam export has earned Rs. one million in 2020 and Rs. two million and Rs. three million in 2021 and 2022.

The export of sweet potatoes has been recorded as Rs. 36 million in 2020, Rs. 50 million in 2021 and Rs. 82 million in 2022.

Meanwhile, Rs. 650 million, Rs. 698 million and Rs.1,203 million has been earned from exporting Cassava during the above mentioned three years.

Tomatoes are imported and are imported for the preparation of certain sauces, juices and other related products. But it is also stated that tomato export is 67 metric tons in 2020, 88 metric tons in 2021 and 76 metric tons in 2022.

Vegetable seeds will be imported in 1,955 metric tons in 2020, 1,701 metric tons in 2021 and 2,363 metric tons in 2022.

Meanwhile, according to the data provided by the Customs Department, no Coco yam, sweet potato or cassava has been imported into Sri Lanka during the period from January 1, 2023 to November 22, 2023.

Watermelons and eggplants are imported for the needs of the tourism industry and other related products. Water Melon has imported eight metric tons in 2020, two metric tons in 2021 and nine metric tons in 2022.

But Water Melons will be exported as 13 metric tons in 2020, ten metric tons in 2021 and ten metric tons in 2022.

Eggplants have been imported in the form of three, two and nine metric tons in the respective three years and exported in the form of seven and two metric tons respectively in 2020 and 2021.

According to this report, it is clear that a lot of money was spent to import even Coco yam such as sweet potato, and cassava into Sri Lanka, even though they can be cultivated in Sri Lanka.

The Agriculture and Plantation Industries Ministry has made arrangements to cultivate everything that can be grown locally in the country. Under that, if the weather situation does not affect us in the coming year, the necessary arrangements have already been prepared for the production of the crops we need in this country.

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