ECONOMYNEXT – Farmers in several districts in Sri Lanka who changed cultivation practice with Chinese advice have boosted pineapple output 300 percent and export grade mangoes 90 percent, the Food and Agricultural Organization said.
Pineapple yields had tripled to 55 tones a hectare with high density planting, with 25,000 to 32,000 plants per acre against 4,000 traditionally.
Advanced pruning and fruit bagging techniques increased export-grade mango production to 90 percent.
Technical support came from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences (CATAS) in a project between Ministry of Agriculture of Sri Lanka, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China.
The two-year project supported by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MARA) of China, which ended this year, achieved significant productivity, quality, and capacity gains for banana, mango, and pineapple production across 10 model farms in Colombo, Kurunegala and Anuradhapura districts.
In another project tissue cultured seedling production doubled, with costs reduced by 30-40 percent.
The establishment of a state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory supplied disease-free, high-yielding planting materials to farmers across three provinces.
“By sharing knowledge and technology, we are helping farmers achieve higher yields, better quality, and stronger livelihoods,” said H E Qi Zhenhong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Sri Lanka.
“The success achieved in Sri Lanka is not only improving the lives of farmers today but is also shaping a stronger, more resilient fruit value chain for the future,” said Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives.
19 February 2025. Makandura, Sri Lanka. (L-R) Dr Darshani Jayamanne, an agronomist, and Additional Director of the pineapple Research Centre, Krishan Poorna, a pineapple farmer, Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese crop cultivation expert, and Poorna’s 13-year-old son, Thuhan, inspect the family fields. Poorna has just begun receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his farm’s yields.
18 February 2025. Horana, Sri Lanka. BHS Lakmal (L), a pineapple farmer, and Jifeng Li (R), a Chinese agriculture expert advisor, cover pineapples with paper protection against pests and the elements, as the fruit approach harvest time.
19 February 2025. Makandura, Sri Lanka. Nimali Wijesooriya works on her banana farm. Nimali is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve her plantation’s yields.
20 February 2025. Nochchiyagama, Sri Lanka. LSM Dissanayake, a mango farmer, prunes one of his trees, under the supervision of Zengxian Zhao, a Chinese expert advisor on crop cultivation. Dissanayake is receiving Chinese agricultural expertise and technological support to improve his harvests.
“FAO looks forward to building upon these successes in close partnership with the Government and private sector stakeholders, including the country’s fruit farmers, to ensure sustainable growth and resilience in the sector.” (Colombo/Nov27/2025)