Spice producers push for production in plantations

A top spices association is looking at ways of increasing Sri Lankan production of this cash-rich crop.

The Committee of Management of Spices and Allied Products Producers and Traders' Association (SAPPTA) consisting of producers, exporters and processors took a decision at its last meeting to request the government to call a meeting of the plantation sector and all the stakeholders to ascertain how this increase in production can be achieved.

“The meeting will endeavour to determine what the problems are and how the government can assist the plantation sector to venture into the production of spices,” according to a SAPPTA press release.

SAPPTA says increased production can see export earnings triple to over Rs 3 billion from a current Rs 1 billion. It said that for example Sri Lanka's pepper export is less than 4% of the world trade while almost all of Sri Lanka’s production of cloves is exported to India (around 2500 to 4000 tonnes annually) whereas the demand there is around 10,000 to 12,000 tonnes annually.