Banana tissue culture laboratory opens in North Central Province with FAO, China support
ANURADHAPURA – A new state-of-the-art Banana Tissue Culture Planting Material Production Laboratory was inaugurated this week at the In-Service Training Institute in Maha Illuppallama, North Central Province, marking a significant step toward strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit sector.
The facility, established by the North Central Provincial Department of Agriculture with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Program with China, will produce high-quality banana tissue culture planting materials for farmers in the North Central, Northern, and Northwestern Provinces.
Until now, farmers in these regions depended on supplies transported from the South, which was costly and often led to transport-related damage. The new laboratory is expected to ease this burden, ensuring greater access to disease-free, high-yielding planting material and enabling producers to improve productivity, quality, and profitability.
FAO’s support included financing specialized equipment and chemicals, as well as facilitating technical training for staff to ensure smooth operations and high standards. The initiative is part of a wider effort to improve the efficiency and competitiveness of banana, mango, and pineapple value chains in Sri Lanka, boosting both domestic production and export potential.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Governor of North Central Province, Wasantha Jinadasa, noting that the Banana Tissue Culture Laboratory marks an important step in strengthening Sri Lanka’s fruit sector, said, “By improving farmers’ access to high-quality planting material, we are empowering agricultural communities, reducing costs, and paving the way for greater competitiveness in local and international markets.”
Vimlendra Sharan, FAO Representative for Sri Lanka and the Maldives, noting that the laboratory was a practical example of how partnerships can deliver tangible benefits to farmers said, “By combining Sri Lanka’s commitment to agricultural development with FAO’s technical expertise and China’s support through South-South Cooperation, we are ensuring that farmers have access to the quality planting material they need to increase productivity and incomes.”
The facility is expected to directly benefit banana nursery owners and farmers while contributing to a more inclusive and competitive fruit value chain. It also forms part of Sri Lanka’s broader efforts to modernize agriculture, increase farmer incomes, and promote sustainable, market-oriented fruit production.
-ENCL
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