For the first time in the history of agriculture, Sri Lanka has exported Palmyra toddy to France netting in a revenue of USD 45,000.
Palmyra Development Board Chairman Dr Krishantha Pathiraja said that historic export is a result of him and the Coconut, Kithul and Palmyra Cultivation Promotion, Related Industrial Product Manufacturing & Export State Minister Arundika Fernando visiting France last year and doing a promotion for export Palmyra products into European markets. “During this visit, we signed an MoU with a leading distribution company in France, Sarl Liyano Rafal to distribute Palmyra toddy in France.”
The distributor will also promote other Palmyra products in France and the EU.
He also thanked Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana and Sri Lankan Ambassador to France Shanika Hiriburegama for helping to add a new product to the Sri Lankan export basket and also bringing the higher price for Palmyra tappers in the North.
He said that the Palmyra Development Board laboratory made several technical adjustments to bring the local Palmyra toddy made by a factory in Jaffna to international standards and this move will enable them to promote Sri Lankan Palmyra products in the European region, which is a very lucrative market.