LocationsNew growers’ society aims to strengthen Sri Lanka’s upland pear industry through collective action, climate resilience, and sustainable agroforestry
From scattered growers to an organised market force: A new journey begins!
May 25, 2026
Pear orchard in Nuwara Eliya. A mixed agroforestry landscape in the Ragala area where pear cultivation is integrated with other crops.
In the cool uplands of Sri Lanka’s hill country, where mist-covered slopes and tea-covered landscapes dominate the horizon, a quiet but significant agricultural transformation is beginning to take shape. On 22 May 2026, pear growers from Ragala and surrounding villages gathered at Rathnayakapura school to formally initiate the establishment of the Ragala Pear Growers and Marketing Society, marking what many described as a turning point for Sri Lanka’s emerging upland pear industry.
For years, pear cultivation in the Ragala area has remained largely fragmented despite the region being well-suited for producing high-quality fruit. Unlike some forms of agricultural expansion that require forest clearing, pear cultivation in Ragala can largely be integrated into existing home gardens, mixed cropping systems, tea lands, and upland farming landscapes without encroaching into environmentally sensitive areas.
The meeting brought together more than 70 participants representing villages across the Ragala region, including Rathnayakapura, Senarathpura, Pandith Kumbura, and Palal Pathana. Pear growers were joined by researchers, technical experts, officers from the Department of Agriculture, Cooperative Development Officers, Grama Niladharis under a shared vision for a sustainable and market-oriented pear industry. The effort is being developed under the Global Environment Facility-supported project titled 'Partnerships and Innovative Financing to Mainstream Biodiversity and Sustainable Land Management in the Wet Climatic Zone of Sri Lanka' implemented by the Government of Sri Lanka and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project promotes diversified and climate-resilient agroforestry systems that support sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation while creating alternative livelihood opportunities for communities living in environmentally sensitive upland landscapes.
The meeting officially commenced the Society's formation process with the appointment of an Executive Committee and discussions of the draft constitution and membership applications. The newly proposed society is expected to play a central role in strengthening the pear value chain in the region. Discussions focused on collective marketing, coordinated transport, fruit grading, packaging, branding, and value addition. Growers also explored the possibility of eventually marketing their produce under a recognised ‘Ragala Pears’ identity to create a stronger and more premium presence in the marketplace.
Immediate priorities identified by the growers included training programs on society management, leadership, financial management, scientific orchard practices, fruit bagging techniques, grading systems, packaging methods, and branding strategies. Pilot activities on fruit bagging and quality improvement are expected to begin soon within selected orchards.
The meeting further explored the idea of developing a mapped ‘Pear Belt of Sri Lanka’ covering suitable upland regions where pear cultivation could be sustainably expanded under climate-resilient agroforestry systems. Growers and experts viewed this as an opportunity to position pear cultivation as a specialised highland agricultural sector capable of supporting rural entrepreneurship and local economic development.
During the meeting, growers discussed several longstanding challenges faced by the pear sector in the Ragala area, including the lack of quality planting material, insufficient technical knowledge on pruning and orchard management, limited market access, weak bargaining power, and the absence of organised marketing systems. Participants also stressed the urgent need for better fruit grading, packaging, branding, and value addition if locally produced pears are to compete in premium markets. Several growers noted that Ragala pears possess a unique flavour and texture due to the area’s cool climatic conditions and high elevation, giving the region the potential to develop a distinctive market identity similar to geographically recognised fruit-growing regions elsewhere in the world.
The potential Pear Belt of Sri Lanka
Professor Gamini Pushpakumara, addressing the gathering, explained how pear-based agroforestry systems could improve land productivity while maintaining ecological stability. He emphasised the importance of scientific orchard management practices, including pruning, canopy management, nutrient management, flowering regulation, pest control, and fruit quality improvement. The possibility of developing local nurseries and community-level propagation systems for high-quality planting material was also discussed as a future income-generating opportunity for growers.
Officials from the Rahangala Research Station explained the long history of pear varietal development and research in the region. They noted that while pear cultivation has considerable potential in Sri Lanka’s uplands, long-term growth will depend on strengthening technical support systems, improving planting material supply, and introducing better post-harvest handling practices.
One of the most encouraging aspects of the initiative was the strong leadership shown by youth and women participants, who actively contributed to discussions on the future direction of the Society and the modernisation of the local pear industry. Participants stressed that younger generations should be encouraged to see pear cultivation not merely as traditional farming, but as a modern, knowledge-driven agribusiness opportunity connected to sustainability, tourism, agroforestry, and value-added food production.
The meeting also highlighted the close relationship between pear cultivation and the long-term sustainability of tea plantation landscapes in the hill country. Experts explained how integrating pears into diversified land-use systems could improve ecological resilience, reduce risks associated with monoculture agriculture, and contribute to healthier and more sustainable upland farming environments.
The initiative is supported by a collaborative partnership among the Rahangala Agriculture Research Station, Grama Niladhari Officers, Cooperative Development Officers, technical experts, and the GEF-7 project’s technical team of Janathakshan GTE. Officials noted that such institutional and community partnerships are essential to creating a biodiversity-friendly and climate-resilient agroforestry model that supports both conservation goals and sustainable rural livelihoods in Sri Lanka’s upland landscapes.
By the end of the meeting, there was a strong sense of optimism among participants. Many growers expressed hope that the new society would finally provide the coordination and collective strength needed to transform pear cultivation from a scattered smallholder activity into a recognised and organised market force.
More importantly, the initiative demonstrated how community organisation, scientific knowledge, and environmental sustainability can work together to create new pathways for rural development. In the misty hills of Ragala, growers now believe that the humble pear may hold the potential not only to improve incomes, but also to support a greener, more resilient, and more sustainable future for Sri Lanka’s upland communities.
