by Asoka Malimage,
Director, National Institute of Traditional Medicine, Nawinna

Fruits take an important place in our daily meal. We can observe that many fruits available in our local markets are imported ones. This factor could be clearly seen when we inspect, especially the Pettah market. In that market we find our own fruits too. But it is very few in numbers.

Gannoruwa Agricultural Centre of the Agricultural Department published an article couple of years ago indicating that there are 40 varieties of fruits grown in Sri Lanka. We were able to gather more number after referring the book Bhojana Sangrahaya written by Ayur. Dr. Pandit G. P. Wickramarachchi. There may be more fruits available in Sri Lanka more than mentioned in this article. Out of the fruits grown in Sri Lanka more than 30% are indigenous.

A study published by the Agricultural Department revealed that fruit cultivation is done in more than 60,000 hectares. Total yield is estimated 200,000 tonnes. Out of which 60% are bananas. It is observed that Sri Lanka has a more potential in growing bananas than in other countries. In the year 1998 bananas were grown in 47019 hectares. Yield 32,070,000 bunches. The percentage of perishing in handling of bananas is high as of 35%. Papaya counts 40%. Now the Agricultural Department has introduced many devices to avoid this. I think it is working very well.

There are various definitions to the word 'Fruit'. Although in western countries tomato is considered as a fruit but in Sri Lanka it is not. There was a separate science prevailed in ancient Sri Lanka for planting and forestry called Upavanavidya (Upavana means the garden). The name used for the chief of the garden was Aramadhipathi (Chief of the forest). He is supposed to be veteran in Botany.

Devathas (deity gods). Asuras, Nagas, Rakshas four legged and birds always associate trees. Trees provide daily meals for birds. A person who builds a playground associating flowers and fruit trees obviously go to Shankara's Heaven. He stays there for three years. The person who plant trees bearing fruits, no doubt goes to the Heaven. From ancient times we had lots of fruit gardens. On the first day which Arhath Mahinda Thera visited Lanka he met King Devanampiyatissa (267 BC) at Mihintale amidst a mango grove. If some one plants or induce some one to plant five mango trees on the waysides of a main road definitely he goes to the Chandra Heaven.

It is better to have a look at the 1998 Food Balance Chart. The fruit production for 1998 was 141,930 metric tonnes. The imported amount was 15,340 tonnes. We have exported fruits only to an amount of 2,420 tonnes. The people concerned about making policies on exports and imports should make a note of that trend. When I visited Singapore last year I was able see Madan (Indian Gooseberry) in a supermarket which was kept for sale. As I remember the price of 100 gms was 3 Singapore dollars that is approximately 150 rupees. It has come to Singapore from Australia.

It is observed that the daily consumption of fruits in our country is very much less, compared with the so-called developed countries. As the mid population of 1998 is assumed at 18,774,000, one person consumes only kg 8.05 per year that is daily consumption is 22.05 gms. It is not strange to note that malnutrition is prevailing in a country where people consume only 8 kgs per year. The pity of this factor is that fruit trees could be planted in our home gardens in plenty. The ladies who rear exotic plants in their home gardens could give a big backup by planting at least a couple of fruit trees such as papaya, gauva, ambarella, bananas etc. which consumes only a small area.

I have experienced that plants such as lime or naran could be planted in pots. I have experienced very much as a person living in a town, that we do not get the fresh fruits. Or ripened in the proper manner.

One fruit vendor (mudalali) told me how they ripe papaya coming from down south. They stack all the papapayas unripe or immature in the lorry and introduce a small stick of carbide and light it and close it with a tarpaulin cloth. When the lorry load arrives in Colombo goods is ready for sale. But there are few places where they sell fruits prepared in a proper manner.

But I have to know, I am just making a reminder for the people living in town, who have tasted good quality fruits when they lived in the rural areas (some people might not remember).

Surely you wouldn't have got the pretty taste as then.

If we analyse the cost in dollar terms it is like this. For apple alone for the year 1998 we have used US$ 3.6 million.

We must concentrate on the cost incurred in getting down these fruits despite having lots of varieties of fruits grown in Sri Lanka.

I have collected 73 varieties of fruits grown in Sri Lanka. Please pardon me for not mentioning some of the English or botanical names for some fruits. Namely: mango, pineapple, ambarella, anona (varieties weli anona, katu anona, etc.), aththika, eth demata, eraminiya, indi, uguresa, banana, karamba, komadu (water melon), kamaranga (star fruit), kottamba (almond), kadju puhulam, kirindi, kebella, kekuna, kowakka, kirala, kalukemmeriya, kirilla (koho kirilla, eth kirilla, bata kirilla), koon, cocoa, gal siyabala, goraka, gandapana, giritilla, gadu guda, papaya, gauva, pears, passion fruit, peach, pini jambu, lime, lemon, delum (pomegranate), oranges, durian, divul (wood apple), palu, bovitiya, himbutu, jambola, jambu, jamson, madan, heen dan, mora, masan (debara), mee pup, rat mal, rambutan, lovi, locket, lauvlu, naminan, nelli (Indian gooseberry), naran (heen naran, maha naran), waraka, (ripened jack), weralu (Ceylon olive), weera, Welipenna, mangosteen, grapes, midi, sepatilla, siyambala, seeni kekiri, sidaran, strawberry, pota.

There may be more and more fruits growing in Sri Lanka apart from the above list, which I have collected merely as a layman.I humbly request the Department of Agriculture to give more attention to popularise local fruits among the masses depicting their food values and also to tell them the foreign currency involvement.

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