The Cabinet of Ministers in Sri Lanka has given the green light to import 15,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in shell to bridge the gap in the country's annual requirement, a press conference revealed today.
Speaking at the conference held in Colombo, Cabinet Spokesperson Minister Bandula Gunawardena highlighted that the country faces a shortfall in cashew nut production due to unexpected crop yields in the last season. The annual demand for cashew nuts in shell stands at approximately 25,000 Metric Tonnes, whereas only 12,500 tonnes are currently procurable domestically.
The Minister underscored the challenging situation faced by the cashew industry, emphasizing the necessity of the approved imports to meet the country's needs. The decision comes in response to the failure to meet production expectations in the local cashew harvest during the past season.
The Cabinet of Ministers endorsed the proposal put forward by the Minister of Agriculture and Plantation, granting approval to import 15,000 tonnes of cashew nuts in shell for the current year. Additionally, a committee comprising senior officials from relevant ministries will determine the quantity of imports required between December and April over the next four years, a period when local cashew harvests are unavailable.
The move aims to stabilize the cashew industry and ensure sufficient supply to meet the demands of both domestic consumption and export markets.
