New Vegetable Collecting Centre in Thanamalwila
Gayan Kanchana in Thanamalwila
World Vision Sri Lanka and Cargills (Ceylon) PLC opened a new
vegetable collection centre for The Gangeyaya Farmer's Association and
granted 27 higher
|
World Vision Sri Lanka Operation Director Scott Lout, Cargills
(Ceylon) PLC Director consultant J.C Kathyal, Nation Building
and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister, Jagath
Pushpakumara at the event. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe. |
education scholarships to students in Thanamalwila
recently.
Speaking at the event World Vision Sri Lanka Operation Director Scott
Lout said "We want to introduce new types of farming techniques to these
farmers and create a new sense of purpose and pride that they can pass
onto their next generations. Project emphasis will not only be on the
additional income but also on nutrition and savings among farmers".
Cargills (Ceylon) PLC. Director consultant J.C Kathyal said, "Cargills
always believe in the concept of "fair trading". This is a great example
of that. With the support of World Vision Lanka we implemented a program
to buy fresh agriculture products from Gangeyaya farmers organization at
a fair price. We could offer a minimum guaranteed price for the farmers.
That price is always above that of the intermediary traders' and we
could provide a large and consistent market for them", he said.
"Since 2007 Cargils has purchased two million kilograms of fresh
products from Gangeyaya and we have given back Rs.60 million as income
to farmers of Gangeyaya. Our ultimate objective is to make Sri Lankan
agriculture sector productive, profitable, and stable", he said.
Nation Building and Estate Infrastructure Development Minister Jagath
Pushpakumara said, "At present Gangeyaya farmers get more value for
their products. In the past 30 percent to 40 percent of their products
destroyed while being transported to Colombo. Because of Cargills
intervention wastage has been minimized. It is another positive factor
to increase farmers' incomes", he said. |
