Abstract:
The plantation of minor export crops has become a prominent agriculture activity in Matale. Such
crops include pepper, cinnamon, cloves, arecanut, betel, cocoa, coffee, nutmeg, cardamom, ginger
and turmeric. Where the cultivation of these crops has been an important activity in this region no
geographical studies appear to have been made so far based on the recent trends of these minor
export crops. In this regard, this study objects at knowing about the cultivation of minor export
crops during the period from 2008 to 2017 and the changes that took place in these exports. This
study also ventures to identify the various problems encountered in these exports and attempts to
suggest solutions to remedy them. With this vision in mind the primary data for this study were
obtained through group discussions, interviews and direct observations. In addition secondary data
having been abstained from exports the agricultural department, the ministry for encouraging minor
export crop cultivation and regional agrarian service centers, are analyzed through explanatory
statistical analysis. Through this analysis, it becomes possible together much information about
various matters including production in minor export crops exportation, the extent of cultivation
changes in prices, the recent stagnations in prices faced by cultivators and the diseases affecting
crops. The recent challenges faced by these crops have also been included into the conclusions. On
this basis, solution and recommendation have been put forward such as, increasing the standard of
crop cultivation, conversion of products into finished export items government and private sectors
acting in co-ordination increasing the activities of the small exports department, offering pension and
other incentives to those engaged in these activities in order to encourage and promote this minor
export crop cultivation. In addition this study should immensely help future researches on minor
export crop cultivation.
