Producing organic consumption seeds for export:
BOI approves Sewalanka Organic Seeds
The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka granted investment approval to
Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company (Private) Limited. Chairman / Director
General Dhammika Perera signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and
presented the BOI Certificate of Registration to the investors.
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BOI Chairman/Director General Dhammika
Perera presenting the Certificate of Registration to the
investors of Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company (Private)
Limited. |
The investment agreement for Rs. 30 million signed with Sewalanka
Organic Seeds Company (Private) Limited is for a project to produce
organic consumption seeds for the export market and production of
organic planting materials and agricultural products. Sewalanka Organic
Seeds Company (Pvt) Limited is a social enterprise that focuses on
promoting food security, biodiversity and environmental sustainability
through the production of organic planting materials and agricultural
products.
Sewalanka Foundation, a registered not for profit, non-governmental
organisation, is facilitating the establishment of the project as part
of their objective to promote sustainable rural development by offering
support and services in the development of agriculture. The proposed
investors in the Project are PARCIC of Japan and Sevalink Inc of USA.
The venture is expected to be located in Anuradhapura. The initial
products will be organic red rice, organic black sesame (gingelly) and
organic finger millet (kurukkan) with the required government and
SriCert certifications. Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company will draw on
existing farmer networks to establish an outgrower program. Pure seed
stock will be distributed to farmers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and
Vavuniya. The Company will help the outgrower farmers obtain organic
certification, microfinance services and technical support as needed.
Once the seed supply is established and collection and quality control
systems are in place, the program will be extended to other products and
other parts of the island.
The Anuradhapura farm will serve as a collection point for the raw
organic products which will be cleaned, processed, graded, packed and
exported.
The venture has already made initial contact with potential buyers in
USA and Japan.
Since the venture is a social enterprise, the buyers emphasize 'fair
and direct' trade and have verbally committed to providing technical
assistance for quality control, product packaging and handling as well
as export procedures.
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