June 1, 2013, 5:54 pm


By Steve A. Morrell

Minister of Minor Export Crop Promotion Reginald Cooray said the cinnamon Iindustry was perhaps the oldest export crop Sri Lanka has been reputed for. But, currently, as indicated by the Spice Council, the cinnamon trade and production has come on dire circumstances.

Priorities have been set in place to enhance production, and have the industry move to a more modern era to include technology and value addition.

He conceded that the industry faced production problems as much as productivity enhancement issues and it was time these were addressed and rectified. Considering major tasks ahead, it was now opportune that the Spice Council had initiated a more scientific approach to cinnamon production, and place greater importance to value addition.

Speaking at last week’s workshop initiated by the Spice Council, the Minister noted that although Sri Lanka had maintained leader status consistently, competition faced by the industry was from a secondary product called cassia.

"Cassia was invading our market irrespective of high quality of Sri Lanka cinnamon and might soon overtake our product because of various reasons that could be attributed to complacency on our part in not improving placement of this crop to meet world demand. That too to enhance its value through addition of manufactured sub products used world-wide. All of these products could be exported as value additions", Minister Cooray said.

Inaugurating the workshop, Chairman the Spice Council/Vice Chairman, Project Steering Committee, Sarada de Silva, said although cinnamon had gained SLS standards, improvements to the industry was targeted for 2014, and this workshop was a commencement indicator to move the industry from its position of a cottage industry to one of modern technology and enhanced crop potential.

The severe shortage of cinnamon peelers and the work they do has had critical assessment and through the good offices of the Spice Council, and government support, the industry would move to a modern crop standard rather than continue in its present form, he explained.

The necessary norm for manpower was 35,000 workers. But, current readings were that there were only about 13,000 working in the industry, Additionally, because of worker shortage, land owners were abandoning their cinnamon lands. Although there have been some pointers that suggest improvement to those working in the industry, it was time cinnamon planters, and workers were adequately knowledge based, he advocated.

At net working, suggestions were that a Research Institute be established on lines of the TRI, RRI and the CRI, to take the industry forward. Additionally, thought also centered around the fact that the industry should and could pay for itself rather than look for hand-outouts. Here again the Tea cess was quoted as an area that could be pursued to enhance the industry.

Consultant UNIDO, Gamini Bambaradeniya said the image of the industry had to change. For instance, pruning a tree in the UK was referred to as ‘tree surgery’, and those doing the physical part of the work were designated ‘Tree Surgeons’. Similarly, value addition and its potential was quite substantial.

The industry was too important to face neglect, and UNIDO intervention was important and featured an upward turn in enhancing reputation of cinnamon produced in Sri Lanka, particularly that quality of cinnamon produced here is not available anywhere else in the world.

Secretary, Ministry of Industry and Commerce/ Chairman, Project Steering Committee, Anura Siriwardena, also spoke.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Admin and Gender Coordinator, UNIDO, Nilanthi Wijewickrema.