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Kalpitiya growers seek more land for pomegranate
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Farmers say they can grow the red pomegranate in the Puttalam district without any problems
Kalpitiya farmers skilled at cultivating a variety of vegetables and fruit in hot weather and with limited water are trying their hand at growing pomegranate.
Trials have identified red pomegranates as the variety that can be grown. And the yellow variety called Nimali has been successfully cultivated in Kalpitiya, so far.
Sri Lankan growers have not yet been able to fulfil the demand. Imports, including from India bridge the demand gap.
Growers who have successfully cultivated the Kalpitiya red pomegranate, known as the Red Angel, say that they are able to grow this crop in the Puttalam district without any problems. But they want land and funds.
Growing well: The red and yellow fruit
Pomegranate growers say that they have the potential to produce a harvest that is second to none compared with foreign red pomegranates that have invaded the market.
They are keen to see public and private sector involvement to grow pomegranates that are more flavourful and have medicinal properties unlike the foreign red pomegranates.
Tharangika Shamali
S.H.M. Asmi, a well known pomegranate grower from Kalpitiya and Thihali, who has been growing in Kalpitiya for over 20 years, said Kalpitiya is truly a different ecosystem and farmers have worked really hard to cultivate.
M Farook, said cultivation in Kalpitiya began by planting the Nimali variety which was successful. In 2023 he met with the, former agriculture minister Mahinda Amaraweera who helped.
“With his intervention, I and a group of people successfully cultivated the Kalpitiya Red Pomegranate, known as the Indian Red Angel,’’ he said.
“At the same time, there is no price problem for pomegranates. There is no shortage either. The main problem is that we have not been able to develop this cultivation further.
“We don’t have land or money. If you give us both, I’m ready to provide the pomegranates the country needs, but we are asking you to remove the obstacle and provide us with the necessary facilities.” Puttalam Deputy Director of Agriculture, Tharangika Shamali, said there is limited land so high-yielding varieties are needed.
Pix and text by Hiran Priyankara Jayasinghe
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