The Chinese Ambassador to Sri Lanka has requested the Ministry of Agriculture to further expand mushroom cultivation in the Hambantota District.

The Minister of Agriculture Mahinda Amaraweera mentioned that Chinese Ambassador Qi Zhenhong has requested him to take steps to further expand the mushroom cultivation that is currently being done in the Hambantota District.

There are many species of mushrooms in this country, but the species that can be grown commercially are the straw mushroom, the button mushroom, the oyster mushroom, the Shiitake mushroom and the abalone mushroom.

The Hambantota District is currently cultivating mushrooms, but most of the farmers grow only two or three types of mushrooms. Zhenhong has mentioned that there are about 29 species of mushrooms with high nutritional value, suitable for human consumption, and that steps should therefore be taken to popularise mushrooms as a food in Sri Lanka, which is a very popular food among the people of China.

Currently, there are a large number of Chinese nationals in the vicinity of the Hambantota Port, so the people of that area can earn a lot of income by growing mushrooms.

Accordingly, it has been reported that Amaraweera has advised the Department of Agriculture to take necessary measures to expand mushroom cultivation in the Hambantota District. The Minister also stated that the Ambassador had mentioned that the Chinese Government is ready to provide all necessary support for the expansion of the mushroom cultivation in the Hambantota District.