Two new varieties of pomegranate have been introduced in Sri Lanka, Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera has announced.
The new varieties, named ‘Malee Pink’ and ‘Lanka Red’, have been introduced for the cultivation in the dry zones of the country, following a tissue culture research conducted by the Plant Virus Indexing Centre (PVIC) in Homagama.
A celebration was held yesterday (Jan. 24) to mark the 25th anniversary of the PVIC, where these new varieties were introduced.
Mr. Mahinda Amaraweera. Director General of Agriculture Mrs. Malathi Parasuraman and Mrs. Lanka Samanmali, Agricultural Research Scientist, who introduced the latest pomegranate varieties and Dr. K.A. Renuka, Director of PVIC, Dr. Vindya Basnayaka, Deputy Director of PVIC, also participated in this event.
The pomegranate varieties were handed over to farmers for cultivation by the minister.
The Minister said that these two varieties have a lifespan of over 30 years and 20–25 kgs of pomegranates can be harvested from each tree per year. A total of 400 trees can be planted per acre, which can generate an annual income of Rs. 8 million per acre, he has added.
He also noted that the
because these pomegranate varieties can be used as an alternative to the currently imported red pomegranate varieties, the cost of pomegranate import can be reduced in our country.