COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, September 2 (ePRESS) — The North Central Provincial Department of Agriculture has opened a state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Planting Material Production Laboratory at the In-Service Training Institute in Maha Illuppallama. The project is supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Programme with the People’s Republic of China.
The new laboratory will produce high-quality, disease-free banana planting materials for farmers in the North Central, Northern, and North Western Provinces. Until now, farmers in these areas had to depend on supplies from the south, which were costly and often damaged during transport.
Officials said the facility will help increase productivity, quality, and profitability for banana growers while strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit value chain. Nursery owners and farmers are expected to benefit directly.
FAO assisted by providing equipment, chemicals, and technical training for staff. The project also aims to improve banana, mango, and pineapple value chains in Sri Lanka, boosting both local production and export opportunities.
“This Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory marks an important step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit sector,” said Wasantha Jinadasa, Governor of the North Central Province. “By giving farmers access to high-quality planting material, we are reducing costs and making our fruit industry more competitive at home and abroad.”
FAO’s Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Vimlendra Sharan, said: “This laboratory shows how partnerships can bring real benefits to farmers. By joining Sri Lanka’s agricultural commitment with FAO’s technical expertise and China’s support through South-South Cooperation, we are helping farmers raise productivity and incomes.”
