A three‑day training program on tropical fruit seedling propagation and high‑efficiency production technology launched in the Southern Province of Sri Lanka on 10 November 2026, bringing together Chinese agricultural experts, Sri Lankan technicians, researchers, students and fruit farmers under the joint auspices of Hainan Province’s foreign affairs office and the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences.
The curriculum, focused on banana, pineapple and mango cultivation, blends classroom lectures with hands‑on field studies at local farms. Lectures cover seedling handling, disease control, and soil management, while field sessions expose participants to the latest practices in fruit bagging and precise drip irrigation that were introduced during the China‑FAO Sri Lanka South‑South Cooperation Project between 2023 and 2025.
“We hope this training course will further expand exchanges and cooperation between China and Sri Lanka in the field of tropical agriculture, contribute Chinese solutions to the sustainable development of Sri Lanka’s agriculture, and bring more benefits to the people of Sri Lanka,” said Chinese ambassador to Sri Lanka Wei Huaxiang at the launch ceremony.
Representing local officials, W.L.O. Manel highlighted the project’s importance, stating that the training course marks the beginning of broader prospects for agricultural cooperation between the two countries in the future.
Participants received practical instruction on fruit bagging, a technique used to protect seedlings during early growth, and on the deployment of precise drip irrigation systems designed to maximize water efficiency. These methods were proven during the China‑FAO project, where banana output rose by 70 percent and mango yield increased by over 50 percent.
Moreover, the project cut fertilizer use in participating farms by 72 percent, a dramatic reduction that demonstrates the potential environmental benefits of adopting the new technologies. By reprioritizing nutrient delivery and minimizing waste, farmers can maintain high yields while lowering ecological footprints.
“Tropical fruits farming has been a prominent sector in China‑Sri Lanka agricultural cooperation,” a Chinese Academy spokesperson noted, underscoring the partnership’s long history and its focus on both productivity gains and sustainable practices.
In addition to the immediate training outcomes, the program is part of a continuum that seeks to transfer knowledge through demonstration sites. The 10 demonstration sites from the previous South‑South cooperation initiative have already served as models for local farmers, and this new training aims to deepen those lessons and bring them to a wider audience.
From a technical perspective, the training emphasizes high‑efficiency production technology, which refers to integrated cultivation practices that combine optimized plant spacing, nutrient timing, and pest management to reduce labor and resource inputs while maximizing output. Tropical fruit seedling propagation, another focal point, describes the systematic cultivation of seedlings from germination to transplant, a process that requires precise control of humidity, temperature, and light to ensure robust root development.
These methods are expected to translate into longer-term gains for Sri Lanka’s banana, pineapple and mango industries, which are major contributors to rural employment and export revenue. By incorporating Chinese science‑based practices, Sri Lankan farmers can achieve higher yields, lower resource costs, and improved product quality, thereby reinforcing their competitive position in regional and global markets.
As the training program progresses, both China and Sri Lanka anticipate expanding the scope of cooperation to include research on climate‑resilient varieties and digital agriculture tools, positioning the partnership at the forefront of tropical fruit science and technology.
