Sri Lanka thieves hot on spices

Sept 18, 2009 (LBO) - Theft of spices from Sri Lankan gardens is a serious problem that could kill the trade, the new head of the island's spice traders association has said. The global demand for spices will continue to increase because of growing awareness that consumption of spices contribute to good health, he said.

Spice trade officials said there was not enough cultivation to meet the demand and that is production was increased more could be exported. Christopher Fernando, chairman of the Spices and Allied Products Traders Association (SAPPTA) called for government intervention to curb thefts of spices, which is a key export from the island.

He said the trade was trying to encourage increased cultivation of spices especially among plantations companies with huge land banks because of the export demand and potential to increase shipments.

But Fernando told the association's annual meeting that theft of produce is "killing the spice industry", according to a statement..

"No serious investor will invest his money and time if he cannot reap his harvest," Fernando said.

"We implore the government to introduce deterrents against theft of ag

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