Jaffna Grapes Reaching the Colombo Market, Sri Lanka

19th September 2009, firstlanka.com

The cultivation of grapes is taking place in the North at a major scale under the “Uthuru Wasanthaya” Task Force with the supervision of Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and the guidance of the President to boost the cultivator. The yields are not only released to markets in the North but also to the South.

Grapes were destroyed during the LTTE era as the cultivators could not sell their produce. With the opening of A-9 road, a prosperous era has dawned to the farmers.

The land in the Jaffna Peninsula is fertile for the cultivation of grapes while the climate is also suitable for this exercise. Cultivators as well as traders experienced many difficulties in the past due to LTTE threats. As a result, many gave up the cultivation.

However, the farmers have now taken to the cultivation of grapes on a major scale.

Grapes stocks are also reaching the Colombo Market. A kilo of grapes in the Jaffna market fetches 200 rupees.