Grape Farms in Jaffna (Sri Lanka)

The death art of Jaffna The beside generation is not keen on getting their hands foul and they dislike hard work. They do not want to take up the field of erecting. They prefer universe in air conditi unrivaledd offices or existence doctors and lawyers. They squander dreams of their own and being a pipelineshot sodbuster is hardly one of them For thirty long course of studys Sri Lanka was torn aside by a malevolent state of warf be between the countrys majority and minority a war that not only claimed the lives of many, soldiers and civilians alike, notwithstanding also destroyed a great deal congruousty and dammed the countrys festering in uncountable shipway.The whole of Sri Lanka grieved as one at all that was woolly-headed but it would not be incorrect to say that it was the north that suffered the well-nigh it affected the education, economy, health, security, agriculture and overall the lives of the people of that part of the island. One stack that was deep ly affected in the field of agriculture is grape farm, an pains that was and is carried out at a commercial basis only in the district of Jaffna. It was stated by Mr. Sivakumar, Provincial Director of Agriculture Yankee Province, that before the war the district of Jaffna had over 250 acres of grape cultivation.The war brought upon difficulties in marketing the crops which resulted in gradually increasing bends of farmers go away the trade as it was no longer profitable. in time since the ending of the war and the opening of the A9 road, crude marketing prospects pay been found and the trade has and again been taken up and currently is spread over one hundred ten acres in Jaffna. While cultivators who lost their farms during the war have been apt(p) the opportunity to revive their lost businesses, untested cultivators too are being encouraged to take up the trade by the government verbalise Mr.Sivakumar. The Ministry of Agriculture Northern Province is currently focusing on introducing sensitive varieties of grape harvest-festival to Jaffna farmers in order to harvest better crops. These new varieties Sonaka and Sharad have been imported from India and are give tongue to to produce grape fruit that is larger in size and sweeter than the local grapes. This idea of importing new varieties has been supported by the Central Department of Agriculture which is the agency that gives permit for importing any sort of planting material, and also by the Ministry of Agriculture.The fiscal support has been given by Cargills food city as it is them who invested in the project. The total project investment has been Rs 222 million and 92. 2 million of this investment has been shared by the USAID. The imported seedlings have already been introduced, distributed and promoted among Jaffna farmers and is currently being cultivated and within an separate two years the peninsula will have a greater variety of character reference grape fruit, noted Mr. U. L. M Hald een, Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Northern Province.Grape crops are harvested twice a year during the sea watchword of March- April and August- September. These are considered peak periods as it is the dry season during these months and for grape fruit the dry season is considered very important as this is the date that produces the best crops. However certain farmers prune in such a way that they can produce crops up to now off season. Grape cultivation, compared to other farming industries needs a fair amount of investment and apparent movement to inaugurate and to maintain. To grow a ninny acre farm it be almost 150 thousand Rs just to install the pandal system.For the maintaining of such a farm it costs about another 150 thousand Rs stated Mr. Sivakumar. correct though it is a costly trade it brings in enough funds to be called a profitable trade. Farmers have reported that a quarter acre farm brings in nearly 200 thousand Rs per season. This good income is o ne of the main encouraging forces for other cultivators to begin grape farms of their own which in return will increase the overall crops produced by Jaffna which would prove to be healthy for the economy of the district.On a positive note, locally grown grapes are cheaper than the imported ones as a kg of Jaffna grape fruit costs 200 to 300 Rs while the Australian imported grapes cost 600 to 700 Rs. However on the contrary the imported grapes are much larger in size and taste sweeter than the locally grown Israel Blue. Therefore, even now, customers who look for quality are willing to pay more to purchase the imported fruits, which agitate a threat to the growth of the local grape fruit farming trade. This is the reason as to why he ministry is trying all attainable options to grow grape crops that can compete with the imported ones. As there is already a fairly good market for Jaffna grapes in the grey part of the country it is their hope to widen this market by distinguishe d the imported grape fruit market. As earlier mentioned maintaining a grape farm is both an expensive and difficult venture. Especially to the farmers of the north it is something much more than just a trade, it is a significant part of their lives. They have many beliefs and traditions entwined with the grapevines.It is said by these farmers that growing grapes is in many ways much like raising a child it requires constant nurturing, sympathize with and attention. There is a manner in which every move should be made choosing the soil, installing the pandal system, preparing the drainage, watering the farm, fertilizing, and last but not to the lowest degree pruning should all be done in a proper manner to ensure the well being of the grapevines says Mr. Inuvil, a successful grape farmer. The preciseness of this trade makes it appear that grape farming in actuality is more or less an art than just an agricultural trade.Even though the number of farmers stepping into this field is o n an increase, according to farmers the future of the industry remains uncertain. It is because of the wishing of young farmers who are willing to follow in the footsteps of their precursors. gibe to Mr. Inuvil The succeeding(a) generation is not keen on getting their hands soggy and they dislike hard work. They do not want to take up the field of farming. They prefer being in air conditioned offices or being doctors and lawyers. They have dreams of their own and being a grape farmer is hardly one of them, and so it seems that the like father like son days are long gone.It is evident that times have changed and that even in a country like Sri Lanka where traditions and culture are a main part of its peoples day to day lives, the younger generation is hardly found being limited by said traditions or cultures. Todays youth is much more commercialized and they crave ways of earning riches in much easier ways than laboring away in farms and fields under a scorching sun. other re ason for the possible declining of future farmers is the perception that agriculture is an unprofitable or oor industry to be in as this is often the image that is project by the media and otherwise, however many successful farmers like Mr. Inuwil would strongly disagree. According to him, it is a matter of willing to be hard working, committed, sacrificial and forbearing all traits that he says most of the younger generation lack. Here arouses the heading even though grape farming in the north is at present in a very good state, after the active generation of farmers is long gone will the industry still populate or will it simply turn into yet another dying art? -Sandarangi Perera