CIC Agri Businesses ventures North

Two agri centres in Jaffna:

Charumini DE SILVA

CIC Agri Businesses has invested Rs 40 million in developing two agri service centres in Kilinochchi and Jaffna.

They have formed a separate company named CIC North and East Agri Development, under CIC Agri Businesses.

Keerthi Kotagama

CIC Agri Businesses, Managing Director and CEO Keerthi Kotagama said these centres will be agriculture knowledge dissemination centres for farmers. “This is very much needed to increase the production as well as productivity of crops and livestock. CIC Agri Businesses focuses and serves the agricultural potential in the peninsula,” he said.

They have recruited 14 agriculture graduates and diploma holders to carry out field level extension activities. The company has invested another Rs 10 million for Research and Development (R and D) of agricultural crops suitability in the area.

CIC Agri Businesses have earmarked and commenced negotiations with the Government to lease three farms in the Northern province with an estimated investment of Rs 150 million on production of seed and planting material, fruit and vegetable production and livestock especially dairy.

Kotagama said Kilinochchi has been identified to set up a 100 dairy acre farm as a model and develop 1,000 out grower farmers to collect 10,000 milk litres per day, providing an income generation opportunity for rural villagers living in the vicinity.

The company is focusing the local market. They expect to export crops such as seed paddy, rice, maize, fruits, specially mango and grapes.

The investment in the demonstration farm will be around Rs 80 million.

Seed paddy, vegetable seed, planting material, soil testing, tissue culture plants, maize, fruit and vegetable production, milk, egg production and also agro tourism will be developed in the peninsula.

There will be direct employment for around 120 and indirect employment for over 5,000 as out growers.

There is a commendable growth in the Eastern Province dairy farm and products are now available in the market too.

Up to now CIC Agri Businesses have developed over 2,000 farmers as out growers. They are targeting to establish in the North next year.

CIC Agri Businesses have performed extremely well in all sectors especially seed paddy, fruit and vegetables, machinery, fertilizer, agro tourism, rice exports, banana and many others.