Bio-diversity

This project by the Participatory Development Centre (PDC) will encourage banana production. To this end, ten women will be trained in using banana leaves to wrap food at the agricultural research and training centre at Thelijjawila. Additionally, the project will construct a banana pulp manufacturing center. Four nursery sites have been cleared for establishing banana nurseries. The banana species that will be propagated are Suwandal, Kolikuttu, Nethrapalam and Ambul. Successful banana nursery programme. Target of the project is to raise 4000 plants in 4 nurseries. Another 1000 plants are to be taken from existing mother plants, belonging to the banana farmers of the area. PDC has taken steps to market banana leaves as rice packet wrappers to Sri Lanka Port Authority. PDC has already received an order to supply 500 banana leaves per day. PDC has entered into an agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture to sell their paper made out of banana fibers at the Elephant Orphanage Center at Pinnewala. PDC will look for other marketing opportunities. A banana sale centre will also be established.

Sri lanka