A pilot plant Bamboo shoot processing facility was setup at ITI. A building within the ITI premises was renovated in order to house the food processing equipment. The machinery and equipment received from China, includes processing machines such as slicer, vacuum can seamer, vacuum sealer, high pressure retort. Can testing equipments such as a can saw and a seam monitor was also received. Utilities required for the installation and operation of the equipment were connected from the ITI main sources of steam, water and electricity. Some of the equipment required in the processing line was constructed by the Engineering Services department of ITI.
Prof. Tissa Vithrana ceremonially opened the processing center on 28th October 2009, in the presence of a delegation from INBAR and ICBR of China. This facility could also be used for processing of other foods materials.
The first harvest of the edible bamboo shoots from the plantation at Walpita Farm, Gampaha, was received during the rainy season in months of October and November 2009 after two years of cultivation. The Chinese delegation who was in Sri Lanka in October trained the staff at the Department of Agriculture on the preparation of the soil beds for increasing the yield of the harvest and also on the methods of harvesting.
Last Updated on Tuesday, 03 December 2013 17:25