Abstract:
Cinnamon is one of the major spices exported from Sri Lanka. More than 90 percent of
the total production is exported to Latin America, USA and EU. With WTO regulations
operating, Sri Lankan cinnamon quills exporters have to face problems in maintaining
international quality standards for exports to EU and Latin America. This study mainly
forcusses the need for proper quality management of cinnamon quills exported from Sri
Lanka. A survey was conducted in Matara district, covering 50 cinnamon farmers, from
Hakmana, Kumburupitiya and Mulatiyana DS areas, covering 4 Grama Niladhari
Divisions, in the Matara district of Sri Lanka. Matara district has about 7,926 ha of
cinnamon lands, which is close to 28.88% of the island total extent (27,440 ha). The
multi-stage random sampling procedure was adopted to select farmers. The study
examined the processing technology used, problems in grading, storage, and skilled
labour availability, and information sources on processing for cinnamon quills.
Results revealed that mainly traditional technology was used in processing cinnamon
manually. About 94% of farmers used hired labour for harvesting and processing
cinnamon, while 72% of them faced problems of availability of skilled labour. It was
found that growers and hired labourers lacked skills in processing technology due to
unavailability of training opportunities and lack of interest to participate. Farmers were
not interested for participating in training programs or even obtaining information on
processing because they were not directly involved in processing activities. It was
found that hired labourers lacked processing skills. This was mainly due to insufficient
training and knowledge about training programs.
The study revealed that 80% of growers did not properly dry the cinnamon peel to
attain the standard moisture content for storage. Also, only 6% of the growers were
harvesting the cinnamon bark at the correct maturity stage, thus resulting in poor quills
production. Only 20% of farmers had good sanitary conditions for storage of processed
quills, while majority of farmers (92%) did not practice any grading of final product.
About 85% of farmers were applying sulfur dioxide smoke for storage of processed
quills at more than twice the recommended levels. Study showed that only 8% of
growers obtained information about sulfur use from extension services. This has
resulted in low quality cinnamon quills production.
The Department of Export Agriculture should focus on extension strategies, through
its’ cluster village program to target cinnamon processors (especially hired labourers) to
improve production of quality processed cinnamon quills and grading for the export
markets.
