Govt funds research on value added spice products | Daily News

Govt funds research on value added spice products

Minister Daya Gamage with officials at the soft launch of ‘the Global Spice Road Symposium. Picture by Chaminda Niroshan
Minister Daya Gamage with officials at the soft launch of ‘the Global Spice Road Symposium. Picture by Chaminda Niroshan

Funds have been allocated to carry out research on adding value to local spices in order to expand export markets. Minister of Primary Industries and Social Empowerment, Daya Gamage said, Rs. 146 million has been allocated for research on spices which is being carried out by five universities.

At present cinnamon is the largest foreign exchange earner in the spice sector, Gamage said, adding that lack of human resources is an issue for the expansion of the sector. The spice sector can be developed further through value addition and innovation,” he said speaking at the soft launch of ‘the Global Spice Road Symposium (GSRA 2019) to be held from July 10 to 13 in Colombo.

Through the symposium, the Sri Lankan spice sector is looking at expanding the sector with technological collaborations and investments. The spice industry representatives envision that Sri Lanka as a main spice country and the growers and the exporters will be able to benefit through technological collaborations and knowledge sharing sessions during the symposium.

The main objective of this event is to create an upheaval in the main segments of spice, namely, agronomy, post harvesting, primary processing, technological intervention and value addition and export and commercials.

Along with product quality, the hygienic factor of low quality spices augmented through the use of health hazardous chemicals, which in fact has been a negative factor contributing to the diminishing demand for Sri Lankan Spices.

About 75% of cinnamon used in North America is cassia cinnamon. Most of this is imported from Indonesia. The remaining 25 % that is consumed in North America is Ceylon cinnamon from Sri Lanka. Both the United States and Canada largely consume cassia cinnamon. Mexico, on the other hand, largely consumes Ceylon cinnamon.

According to the Global Spice Road Symposium Secretariat, the main challenges and constraints confronted mainly by producers and exporters will be addressed in the forum to secure a holistic approach to identify the most feasible solution

 


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