The Department of Agriculture states that the groundnut crop, which is cultivated as a food crop, has now exceeded the national requirement and has recorded a double harvest.
Agriculture Minister Mahinda Amaraweera was told this at a discussion he had with the crop leaders appointed to promote food crops in the country recently.
“Our country’s annual requirement of groundnuts is 30,000 MT. However, last year, the harvest of peanuts has exceeded 64,000 MT, Crop Leader S.N.P. Weerakoon” said.
Lanka Jumbo, a new variety of peanut introduced by the Department of Agriculture, has resulted in the suspension of even imported stocks of jumbo peanuts. Jumbo peanuts are being grown in Sri Lanka saving a lot of money that has been spent on importing them.
The Minister instructed the officials of the Department of Agriculture to take steps to promote the related products by using the extra harvest of peanuts. The Minister said that a programme to produce peanut oil and peanut butter, which is especially beneficial to the body, should be started and steps should be taken to further expand peanut cultivation.
Minister Mahinda Amaraweera said that the farmers should be encouraged to pay more attention to cultivate groundnuts as well as other such crops, which they can grow without chemical fertilizers and pesticides
