The post harvest loss of fruits and vegetables had been estimated at over 40 percent annually. We are not systematic in food security at ground level. Due to negligence, carelessness and lack of knowledge in simple post harvest techniques, a large extent of what our farmers produce through hard work is getting spoiled in harvesting, storing, transporting and marketing, said Irrigation, Water Resources and Disaster Management Minister Duminda Dissanayake.
He said so at the inauguration of the Eppawala Mango Processing Zone project, initiated to boost the mango cultivation and harvest. It is a value-added production, adopting the latest fruit processing techniques, initiated through the Anuradhapura Institute of Post Harvest Technology by Minister Dissanayake when he was the Agriculture Minister.
Cultivators who have been selected to participate in the mango processing zonal activities, have been offered appliances, including mango ripening cubical, specially designed crates for packing mangoes to minimize damage, fruit grading and washing machines costing Rs. 500,000 per set, to enable mango growers to market quality mangoes at high prices.
The institute has also intervened to get the chain of supermarkets onboard for purchasing processed fruit in bulk. The mangoes will be marketed under the brand name "Eppawala Mango" under the standardization certificate of the institute guarantying high quality.
Speaking at the farmers’ gathering, the minister said primitive fruit processing methods shall be done away with to enhance the income of farmers. Farmers are used to transport mangoes by dumping the fruits in a gunny bag.
Having stacked heavy bags of mangoes on top of each other and sometimes sleeping on top of the mangoes, the fruits get spoilt. They are only interested in transporting fruit as much as possible without caring to preserve the quality.
The minister said under these circumstances, he had instructed the institute’s staff to provide post harvest technology to farmers.
The minister said the government is providing fruit processing equipment worth Rs. 500,000 per mango farmer as a self-employment gratuity, along with the provision of free extension services, planting materials etc as incentives.
The Institute of Post Harvest Technology officials headed by its chairman Kavinda Dissanayake and a large number of villagers were also present.
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