Sri Lanka considers lifting ban on Palm Oil
Palm oil, a key crop that has a market within the country, continues to import because there are “experts” that sell a myth to villages who in turn hold governments to ransom against its cultivation.
Sri Lanka has banned cultivating palm oil for the past seven years and the government is convinced of its benefits but fear the people’s wrath should they lift it.
The present government has discussed the lifting of the ban on cultivation of palm oil at the Cabinet level and among parliamentary groups but want the industry to convince the people its benefits before embarking on lifting the ban.
In this context the committee of experts appointed by the government has given the go ahead to remove the ban on cultivating palm oil but prior to May 20 the people of the Kalutara, Galle, Matara and Kegalle areas have to be made aware of plans to grow the crop and its benefits to ensure no future opposition.
The Palm Oil Industry Association President Yajith De Silva addressing the media on Wednesday at the Renuka City Hotel in Colombo said the sector attracts Rs.10 billion in new investments and 10,000 new jobs in rural areas
The industry expects to target a 50 per cent increase in smallholder engagement and believe that in five years domestic production will be increased by 30 per cent resulting in a reduction in the import bill by 20 per cent, Mr. De Silva said.
Initially new palm oil cultivation is expected to take place on an extent of 10,400 hectares that can be increased, Mr. De Silva said.
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