The Ministry of Agriculture drew attention to the statement made by a Member of Parliament 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 295 million USD.
Accordingly, the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industry instructed the Department of Agriculture to immediately give a report to the Ministry of Agriculture regarding the matter.
A report prepared by the Social Economic and Planning Center of the Department of Agriculture was given to the Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industry yesterday (04).
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, 1203 metric tons of cassava, 04 metric tons of Coco Yam and 81 metric tons of sweet potatoes have been exported.
Coco yam export has earned 01 million rupees in 2020 and 02 million and 03 million rupees in 2021 and 2022.
The export of sweet potatoes has been recorded as 36 million rupees in 2020, 50 million rupees in 2021 and 82 million rupees in 2022.
Meanwhile Rs.650 million, Rs. 698 M and Rs.1203 million has been earned from the exporting Cassava 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 1955 metric tons in 2020, 1701 metric tons in 2021 and 2363 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 01.01.2023 to 22.11.2023.
Watermelons and eggplants are imported for the needs of the tourism industry and other related products. Water Melon has imported 08 metric tons in 2020, 02 metric tons in 2021 and 09 metric tons in 2022.
But Water Melons will be exported as 13 metric tons in 2020, 10 metric tons in 2021 and 10 metric tons in 2022.
Eggplants have been imported in the form of 03, 02 and 09 metric tons in the respective three years and exported in the form of 07 and 02 metric tons respectively in 2020 and 2021.
According to this report, it is clear that a lot of money was spent to import even Cocoyam such as sweet potato, and cassava into Sri Lanka, even though they can be cultivated in Sri Lanka.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Plantation Industries 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 work arrangements have already been prepared for the production of the crops we need in this country.
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