Korean assistance for horticulture industry

Wednesday, 1 June 2011 00:46 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

By Shezna Shums

Sri Lanka and Korea are to join hands to improve Sri Lanka’s horticulture industry through the establishment of a Korean Project on International Agriculture.

This year Sri Lanka and Thailand will see a centre being opened whereby the horticulture industry will be developed and improved upon.

The Rural Development Administration (RDA) is the agency responsible for agriculture in the Republic of Korea and the Ministry of Agriculture Sri Lanka with its cordial relationship with Korea has invited their RDA officials to help improve some agricultural aspects in Sri Lanka in the future.

The RDA invites the Ministry of Agriculture to initiate a Korean Project on International Agriculture (KOPIA) in Sri Lanka which will be the mutual benefit to both countries. The RDA has KOPIA centres in 10 countries, namely Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, Philippines, Uzbekistan, Kenya, DR Congo, Algeria, Brazil and Paraguay and this year the RDA has selected Sri Lanka and Thailand to establish KOPIA centres in Asia.

As the Ministry of Agriculture is keen for this initiative Yang-Hee Cho Deputy Director for Asia of the International Agriculture Research and Development Team of the RDA who is responsible for KOPIA centres in the Asia and Dong Jin Park Agriculture Researcher for Asia visited Sri Lanka to discuss this initiative with Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane Minister of Agriculture.

The discussion was successful and the Korean Delegation will visit Director General of Agriculture and the staff and agricultural research stations in the country to discuss and examine the potential field to establish the KOPIA centre.

The proposed project will be on the field of horticulture and the final decision of the crops will be taken once the field visits are concluded.

With the concurrence of the relevant authorities and the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) regarding the KOPIA Centre will be signed once all the arrangements are finalised. The MOU will take care of the mutual interests and benefits of both parties.