'Green Field' recognized for good agri practices
Rasika SOMARATHNA
Sri Lanka's Green Field Coconut Plantation was awarded the Global Gap
standard certification, the world's leading international standards
certificate for good agricultural practices yesterday.
|
Prime Minister D M Jayaratne presents the trophy to Green
Field Founder and Chairman Dr Rohan Ratnayake. |
The Green Field Founder and its Chairman Dr Rohan Ratnayake was
presented with the certificate and the trophy by Prime Minister D M
Jayaratne at a ceremony held at his official residence 'Visumpaya'.
The Premier speaking on the occasion described it as a rare
achievement by a Sri Lankan enterprise in the field of agriculture.
The Green Field Plantation Development and Management Company and its
founder Dr Rohan Ratnayake has brought honour and recognition to the
country by their achievements in the field of coconut cultivation, he
added. They have used modern technology and good management methods to
achieve remarkable results at a location which most thought was not
suitable for any cultivation, the Premier said referring to the area the
cultivation is located in the Vanathavilluwa in the Puttalam district.
The Green Field project has introduced a modern micro irrigation system
to overcome the severe drought conditions and also modern farming
systems to achieve higher yields.
The Plantation which was initially started on low scale today has
developed over 1,000 acres.
In addition to being a profit making venture the project is designed
with the aims of promoting ultra modern agro technology blended with
traditional methods, preserving environment, generating employment
avenues for under privileged rural folk, connected infrastructure
development etc.
Ministers Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Jagath Pushpakumara, Dr J R P
Suriyapperuma MP, Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad and
professionals in the field of agriculture also participated. |
