CIC develops new Basmati rice
Charumini DE SILVA
CIC Agri Businesses has developed a red Basmati rice for the export
market. The demand for this rice has shown a marked growth as it is also
healthy. The company exports rice in large quantities compared to other
products of the company.
Keerthi B Kotagama |
Rice is being exported to US, Canada, Germany, Australia and New
Zealand.
CIC Agri Businesses Managing Director and CEO Keerthi B Kotagama said
Sri Lanka is enriched with both natural and human resources to be one of
the best food suppliers in the global arena.
He said people have shown interest in entering the agricultural
industry with the Government encouraging people with various programs
like Api Wawamu - Rata Nagamu. However, the country has not realized its
actual potential in the agriculture industry. He said during this year
the company has exported around 1,200 metric tonnes and expect to
increase rice exports by 25 percent in 2011. Sri Lanka has a large
variety of rice, but these rice types have not been improved upto export
quality.
The company is initially purifying our own rice varieties while
improving the quality to compete in the export market.
The planting material requirement of the country increases every year
and the lack of quality material for planting purposes is considered one
of the greatest impediments to develop the agriculture industry in Sri
Lanka.
There is a growing potential for maize cultivation as the prices of
maize is increasing rapidly. One of the reasons for the price increase
is that maize is now heavily used to produce bio fuel and it is used in
the animal feeding industry too. With the world seeking green energy
sources, the demand for maize will further improve.
"Farmers should be encouraged to cultivate crops such as maize which
has a growing demand with high returns on investment. More lands should
be utilized to harvest better yields that could focus more on the export
market. At present CIC Agri Businesses has around 10,000 outgrowers,"
Kotagama said.
CIC Agri Businesses is ready to provide consultancy services for
individuals and enterprises. |