COLOMBO, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- In the sweltering heartland of Sri Lanka, where sunshine, heat, and abundant water conspire to create a tropical paradise, a seed sown often bursts into life with astonishing speed.
Yet, for Darshani Jayamanne, additional director of the sustainable agriculture research and development center in Makandura, in Sri Lanka’s northwestern province, a nagging question persisted: Why did the island's bountiful harvests consistently fall short of expectations?The landscape shifted dramatically with the launch of the China-FAO Sri Lanka South-South Cooperation Project in 2023. Soon after, Chinese tropical agriculture specialists arrived, bringing cutting-edge technologies that transformed the previously lackluster, traditionally managed orchards. The impact was nothing short of remarkable.As 2024 drew to a close, the fruits of this collaboration were becoming evident. In the Chinese technology demonstration plots in Makandura, pineapples and bananas, nurtured over the past year, were finally ripening.In the scorching December sun, when the temperature climbed to 33 degrees Celsius, Zhao Zengxian, a renowned expert from the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, was guiding local agricultural technicians through the intricacies of fruit bagging technology."Why the need for fruit bagging?" asked a curious local farm worker. "We've never thought of doing this before."With patience, Zhao explained, "Isolating the fruit protects it from pests and diseases, reducing the need for chemical pesticides.""It shields them from sun and rain damage and even prevents those cheeky peacocks and squirrels from taking bites. Ultimately, this improves the fruit's flavor, keeps the skin clean and evenly colored, and boosts your profits," Zhao added, listing the numerous benefits of this innovative approach that has been widely adopted back in China.The root of Sri Lanka's struggle with fruit production lies in the limited adoption of modern agricultural management practices. Locally, fruit bagging was unheard of. The thousands of bags used in the demonstration plots were a commitment to the Chinese experts' dedication, brought all the way from their homeland."Half of our suitcase space was for personal items, the other half was filled with these bags," they chuckled. "Demonstrating our techniques with the right tools is crucial for showing the best outcomes."The results spoke for themselves. The first batch of mango orchards adopting Chinese planting management techniques saw a 50 percent more yield than before. Pineapple harvests are expected to increase by more than three times, and the quality and quantity of bananas have also significantly improved.As the successes mounted, so did the trust. Farmers, initially hesitant, were quickly won over, increasingly seeking the advice of the Chinese experts in their own fields.About 10 km from the demonstration site, local farmer Rishan Poorna has just planted five acres of pineapple. With the translation helped by Darshani Jayamanne, he proudly recited the Chinese experts' teachings: "Raising ridges to prevent flooding, precise drip irrigation, intensive planting, and soil film coverage --- each technique a game-changer for our farm's productivity and efficiency."Kapila Munasinghe, a national project specialist of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), praised the Chinese experts' dedication to farm innovation in Sri Lanka."They have embedded themselves in the fields, sharing practical agricultural techniques tailored to local needs. Their presence has brought new hope to Sri Lankan farmers," said Munasinghe.Sun Dequan, leader of the Chinese expert group of the cooperation project, elaborated on the team's diverse skills."Our experts specialize in various tropical fruits like bananas, mangoes, and pineapples. Their expertise covers everything from seedling cultivation and management to pest and disease control, water and fertilizer management, good agricultural practices, product processing, and even agricultural economics," he said."We aim to provide comprehensive technical guidance, ensuring that the promise of increased yields becomes a tangible reality for the local communities," added the Chinese expert.In the lush orchards of this South Asian island, fruits and hope ripen side-by-side, growing resiliently towards the sun -- a testament to the power of international cooperation, innovation and China-Sri Lanka partnership.
News report Link : https://english.news.cn/20241229/de854e39e60140638897aabb923941e1/c.html
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