Betel, propagated as a commercial production of export crop, is also scheduled to be exported to the international market.
This crop can be grown in small space gardens and at a lower cost. Growers use composed manure for artificial fertilizer. The weather and the soil conditions of the areas are congenial for the cultivation. Farmers claim that presently the market price and demand for betel leaf is very good and betel is a very profitable cultivation. Now it is becoming more popular among farmer.
Betel is an evergreen, perennial climber widely grown all over Sri Lanka, but it is confined to few districts such as Kurunagala, Gampaha, Kegalle, Kalutara and Colombo. The harvest can be yielded within a short period of 6 months.
(ST/KH)