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· Seychelles, the conglomeration of 115-islands is now focusing on export of cinnamon to boost its economy
· Tourism is the main source of earnings for the 115-island archipelago
· Fisheries and agriculture are two areas the government is now focusing
Seychelles, the conglomeration of 115-islands is now focusing on export of cinnamon to boost its economy. This was revealed by
President Wavel Ramkalawan as he was narrating to the nation his achievement in the first 100 days in office as President. Tourism is the main source of earnings for the 115-island archipelago. Fisheries and agriculture are two areas the government is now focusing.
The mountains in the country are ideally suited for growing cinnamon on a large scale. Seychelles used to grow cinnamon and the plantation industry was once the pillar and backbone of its economy. Seychelles exported its first cargo of 740,123 kilos of cinnamon worth US$3,700 to Germany in 1908. One year later 946,194 kilos of cinnamon were exported. Somewhere down the line cinnamon cultivation was affected. Cinnamon has varied uses. Oil is extracted and the bark is used as a spice, which is used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
The country was exporting both essential oils and cinnamon bark to Europe and America. In 1951, 99,332 kilos of cinnamon oil fetched $162,000. The renewed interest in cinnamon is a part of the country’s initiative to revive the agriculture sector in the Island Nation.
