The Government is aiming at commencing a Mandarin orange cultivation zone around lower areas of Kandy, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla districts.
"The country has spent 496 million rupees for the import of oranges in 2022 with 2407 metric tonnes of oranges imported to the country. In the year 2019, 7773 metric tonnes of oranges were imported," Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said.
He said research carried out to see the possibility of cultivating Mandarin oranges has been successful with the lower lands in the above mountainous regions having suitable climate to grow these specific oranges.
"The Ministry will be allocating funds this year to commence the cultivation of oranges. Mandarin orange plants are planted in nurseries belonging to the Department of Agriculture and they will be cultivated," the Minister said.
The Cyclonic Storm “Ditwah” moved further north from Trincomalee today evening leaving a trail of destruction including more than 90 deaths, over 100 missing and tens of thousands displaced, officials said.
A third rescue attempt to save 28 people trapped on the rooftop of a farm building in Vithikuliya, Nikaweratiya, has failed due to the dangerous water surge from the Deduru Oya.
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