Many future exporters emerge at EDB’s regional drive in Kegalle

Wednesday, 12 February 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

EDB in direct, one-to-one meets with producers
“Many potential exporters promptly identified”: EDB
New suppliers in spice, cut flower and foliage sectors
Lankan foliage grasses in demand in ME

Many producers with export potential were promptly identified by the EDB to be linked to national exports in EDB’s very first regional initiative for Y2014.

As part of its regional supply strengthening efforts of Y2014, country’s national export facilitator the EDB, commenced its initiatives in Kegalle District starting 20 January, and continuing on 28 and 30 January in Kegalle. Kegalle District is an important supplier of three spices – pepper, clove and nutmeg. In 2013, Sri Lanka’s total spice exports grew to $ 329.43 million (provisional), increasing by 39.8% from 2012 exports of the same. “These training and one-to-one sessions were conducted in parallel to ‘Deyata Kirula National Program – 2014’ covering producers as well as entrepreneurs of the Kegalle District. Topics such as Export Costing and Pricing, Export Procedures and Documentation, and Packaging for export market, Links to find buyers in international market were covered in these sessions,” revealed EDB officers who led the initiative. The objective of the program was to enhance the knowledge of farmers/collectors/processors in the area on Quality Upgrading of Spices for exports, Spice processing under Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Spice processing methods, introduction of value added products developed and new machineries introduced by Department of Export Agriculture for the spice sector. Resources persons of the program were comprised with officials of the EDB and Department of Export Agriculture in Matale. At the 20 January session, one to one meeting were held with the participants to identify their issues and needs with a view to address them. Four entrepreneurs and two farmers were identified to develop further and provide technical assistance for spice processing by the EDB. At the 28 January sessions, four potential entrepreneurs were facilitated to obtain EDB registration. M/s Clean Poly Packaging Ltd, a packaging company in Yattogoda in Kegalle, was also identified for further facilitation – in that, to be linked to the export market. At the 30 January sessions at the auditorium of Divisional Secretariat, Kegalle where 90 participants including medium scale growers and members of two Foliage growers associations in Kegalle District took part, five entrepreneurs engaged in cultivation of cut foliage to the extent of more than two acres, having potential to further develop was identified by the EDB. EDB is now planning to visit these growers in the near future with the objective of facilitating them to strengthen them towards the export market. Two associations engaged in cultivation of varieties of foliages requested EDB to facilitate them for marketing by link with suitable suppliers for Masangeana, Compacta and Chinese grass varieties. Sri Lanka’s Masangeana, Compacta and Chinese grass are in demand in the Middle East, and to a lesser extent, in EU. In response to requests made, the EDB agreed to facilitate the associations in the near future with a proper plan of action. In addition to the topics on technical aspects, participants were trained on such topics as steps to enter into export market, introduction of orchid cultivation for exports/Central Province experience etc. by the resource personnel.

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