by kavingeetTJC Mango Cultivation in Sri Lanka Facilitated
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Tom TJC or EJC mango cultivation is encouraged in the Anuradhapura District by the Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Ministry since this mango has a high demand in foreign markets. Already several TJC Mango Cultivation Zones have been set up in Kurunegala, Ampara, Polonnaruwa and Kataragama.
Anuradhapura District Planning Director and Project Coordinator Sugath Nayanandha said that 157,250 mango saplings have been cultivated in the 14 Divisional Secretariat Divisions and 47,000 more mango saplings will be planted in six more DS Divisions during this rainy season.
“Over 6,500 farmers now grow TJC mangos and around 2,000 more will grow TJC mango soon. Each farmer is provided with 25 saplings for quarter of acre. Development Officers have been trained in maintenance, post harvest technology, advanced agricultural methods and marketing,” District Planning Director Sugath Nayanananda said.
A Ministry Spokesman said that the TJC mango is being largely cultivated now in the District. The variety yields eight months throughout a year and the type is larger than the normal ones.. He said that fresh TJC mango and its pulp enjoy a very high demand in the foreign market.
The Ellawala Botanical Gardens Company provides TJC mango saplings to the Export Agriculture Ministry. Tom Ellawala, the founder of the company and renowned Agriculture Researcher Juwan Carlos were made famous by naming this mango variety, ‘Tom ECJ’ or ‘TJC’. One kilo of TJC mango is sold at Rs. 350 to Rs. 500 in the local market.