VEGETABLES FROM SRI LANKA

🥦🌶️VEGETABLES FROM  SRI LANKA🌶️🥦

      Sri Lanka grows manifold vegetable varieties for domestic consumption and export purposes. Locally , vegetables are of center importance in the agriculture industry as they become a vital side dish to rice-based diets- the staple in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka carries out advanced and path-breaking research regarding vegetable crops and the main institution responsible for vegetable crops research is the Research Division of the Department of Agriculture , Sri Lanka (DOA). Leading universities , particularly their Agriculture faculties and private sector organisation also contribute to vegetable crops research in Sri Lanka.

       Benefitted by diverse agro-climate conditions of various regions, Sri Lanka grows numerous varieties of vegetable crops (around 40 species) in different parts of the country throughout the year. Several vegetable-based cropping systems can be found locally ; in ancient Sri Lanka,vegetables were produced in mixed cropping systems, mainly home gardens, "Koratuwa" gardens and in chenna cultivations where crops were produced for direct use or exchange purposes. However, as livelihoods diversified during the colonial era, these traditional systems were taken over by market-oriented production systems that have been rapidly expanding during the past 100 years. Consequently, traditional cropping systems are now rarely spotted in Sri Lanka and the majority of the vegetable production comes from commercial cultivations.

        Today, with the worldwide consumer base growing more conscious of the health-related consequences of what they consume, Sri Lanka too has turned towards organic farming to supply healthy and chemical-free vegetable crops to the global market. The organic movement in Sri Lanka commenced in the 1980s through local NGOs with the Philippine Organic Agriculture Movement. Since then, organic agriculture in Sri Lanka has boomed with local farmers taking on organic farming too address the increasing global demand for organically produced crops. Now, Sri Lanka exports a variety of organic fresh produce to major global market.

         In 2018 , Sri Lanka produced 705,000 Metric Tonnes of vegetables and the extent of cultivation was 61,000 ha. In general , vegetables produced in Sri Lanka fall into the following categories :

    Rooty & Tuberous Vegetables 🥕

     ^ Beetroot                   ^ Radish

     ^ Carrot                       ^ Sweet Potato 

     ^ Kohila                       ^ Lotus roots 

     ^ Manioc                     ^ Potato 

    

    Fruity Vegetables 🍅

     ^ Ash Plantain          ^ Jackfruit

     ^ Breadfruit              ^ Tomato

    Leafy Vegetables 🥦

     ^ Gotu Kola               ^ Mint

     ^ Kangkung               ^ Spinach

     ^ Lettuce                    ^ Cabbage

      Bulb & Stem Vegetables 🌰

     ^ Garlic                       ^ Lemongrass

     ^ Leeks                        ^ Onion

      Other Vegetables - Fungi,Flowers,and          nuts 🍄

      ^ Mushroom         

      ^ Peanut

      ^ Banana Blossom

         Not all these vegetables are exported, though; also, some of these are exported more than others. This depends on the volume of production and seasonal variations that affect nearly all crops. Growing vegetarianism too is a significant demand-driver here. The various health benefits of certain vegetables also make them a favourable choice in the consumers eyes.