Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Amaraweera, has announced the introduction of two new pomegranate varieties, 'Malee Pink' and 'Lanka Red', in Sri Lanka. These varieties are specifically tailored for cultivation in the country's dry zones.
Developed through tissue culture research conducted by the Plant Virus Indexing Centre in Homagama, the new pomegranate varieties offer a promising alternative to the currently imported red pomegranate varieties. One distinctive feature is the extended lifespan of over 30 years for a pomegranate tree, with each tree capable of yielding 20–25 kgs of pomegranates annually. Furthermore, a notable economic aspect is highlighted, as 400 trees can be planted per acre, generating an estimated annual income of Rs. 8 million per acre.
Minister Amaraweera personally handed over the new pomegranate varieties to farmers for cultivation on January 24, marking a significant step towards enhancing agricultural diversity and economic opportunities in the country's dry zones.
