Commodity Research Centers of the National Agricultural Research System of Sri Lanka
Research on
- Tea
- Rubber
- Rice
- Coconut
- Spices
- Sugarcane
- Livestock
- Fish
Introduction
Commodity research Centers concentrates on single agricultural commodity or on a group of commodities. All these institutes except Rice Research and Development Center and the Export Agriculture Research Station, function as research parastatals. Agecon research is carried out by a seperate unit within each institute.
Figure 1 depicts the locations of the research centers.
A brief description on each of these centers is provided in the section following the figure. For more details, Please visit Homepage of the respective institute.
Figure 1: Locations of Commodity Research Centers
| Ref | Institute | Concentration | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
TRI |
Tea |
Thalawakele |
|
2 |
CRI |
Coconut |
Lunuwila |
|
3 |
RRI |
Rubber |
Agalawatte |
|
4 |
SRI |
Sugarcane |
Udawalawe |
|
5 |
EACRS |
Spices |
Matale |
|
6 |
VRI |
Livestock |
Gannoruwa-Peradeniya |
|
7 |
RRDC |
Rice |
Bathalagoda |
|
8 |
NARA |
Fish |
Colombo |
Section 2: Institutional Descriptions
Section 2: Institutional Descriptions
The Coconut Research Institute of Sri Lanka (CRISL) is the first ever Research Institute established in the world devoted for coconut. Since 1928 the institute contributes to development of new coconut varieties and has found innovative solutions to problems faced by the sector. CRI has organized its research under eight divisions. Agecon research is a part of its agronomy division.
Export Agriculture Crops Research Station
Crops included in the category of " Export Agriculture Crops" are cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, nutmeg, clove, areca nut papaya and betel leaves . These are mainly grown in home gardens and under inter-cropping with tea or rubber. This research station is located in Matale.
National Aquatic Resources and Development Agency
NARDA research focuses on aquatic resources in Sri Lanka. The institute was established in 1981 and continued to be an active organization in research on the use of marine as well as inland fihseries sectors. Agecon research is conducted by socioeconomics and market research division.
Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka
RRI focuses on agronomic aspects of rubber growing as well as on product development and marketing. It conducts economic research on cropping systems to compare costs and returns of rubber growing including intercropping. The institute is located in Agalawatte, in Kalutara district, a place with equal access to all rubber growing areas in the country.
Rubber Research Institute of Sri Lanka
Dartonfield,
Agalawatta -
Sri Lanka
Rice Research and Development Institute
Rice research is conducted by the Department of Agriculture. Other than the main research center at Bathalagoda in the North Weatern Province, research stations in Bombuwala, Labuduwa, and Ambalantota also conduct rice breeding related research.
Sugarcane Research Institute
Historical sources confirms of sugarcane growing in Sri Lanka from ancient periods. Growing of sugarcane in large extents was promoted to reduce the burden of sugar imports by producing sugar domestically. Major sugacane growing areas today are concentrated in Monaragala District. Established in 1984, Sugarcane Reseach Institute (SRI) is now located in Udawalawe with close proximity to the major growing area. Agecon research is carried out by the institute's agricultural economics and extension division.
Sugarcane Research Institute
Historical sources confirms of sugarcane growing in Sri Lanka from ancient periods. Growing of sugarcane in large extents was promoted to reduce the burden of sugar imports by producing sugar domestically. Major sugacane growing areas today are concentrated in Monaragala District. Established in 1984, Sugarcane Reseach Institute (SRI) is now located in Udawalawe with close proximity to the major growing area. Agecon research is carried out by the institute's agricultural economics and extension division.Established in 1925, Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka serves the needs of the world's largest tea exporter.
Commercial tea growing in Sri Lanka began in 1867 when James Taylor planted a 9 ha of tea in Loolkandura1 ( also known as Loolecondra) 50 km east of Kandy in the Central Sri Lanka. Today, tea occupies 180 Kha of cultivated land. In 2004, tea growing contributed to seven precent of agricultural GDP in the country and tea exports makred at 300 Million kg of manufactured tea. Tea growing in Sri lanka is classified into three categories as, high grown, mid grown and low grown tea based on the altitude of the production facility.
Tea Research Institute is located in Thalawakele, in an area within the high grown tea producing area. Its functions are supported by two research stations in Kottawa, in the Galle district and Ratnapura serving for low grown and mid grown tea producing areas repectively.
Contact address of the TRI Sri Lanka
Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka,
St Coombs Estate,
Thalawakele-
Sri Lanka
Loolkandura
Veterinary Research Institute
Veterinary Research Institute (VRI) functions as a division of the Department of Animal Productions and Health (DAPH). The institute located in Gannoruwa plan and implement research programs and provide technical products and specialized services to the livestock sector of Sri Lanka.