A better market have been created for grape farmers in Jaffna, with the opening of the A-9 road, Agriculture (Extension) Deputy Director Jaffna, S.Sivakumar said.
He said there were 52 hectares cultivated with grapes in Jaffna in 2009 and farmers have now cultivated 56 hectares and the cultivated area increases gradually.
Though there are other grapes growing districts in Sri Lanka, Jaffna is the only district growing the fruit on a commercial basis, he said.
There are 400 farmers cultivating grapes in Jaffna and because of the big demand farmers who gave up cultivation have resumed cultivation of grapes, Sivakumar said. "Farmers cultivate grapes during two seasons. The main season is August-September and the other is January-February. Consumers expect the same quality as grapes imported from Australia. Australian grapes are more sweeter and seedless. We have introduced more sweeter grape varieties namely Cardinal and Israel Blue for farmers engaged in grape cultivation in Jaffna," the Deputy Director said.
Source:http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/08/10/news35.asp
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