CIC Agri launches major Maize Outgrower Programme
CIC Agri Businesses launched a major Maize Outgrower Programme in the
Northern Province to boost the country's maize production and provide an
impetus to the farmers of the battered Northern Province who are now
slowly but surely getting about their cultivations.
MP Namal Rajapaksa and CIC Agri Businesses MD and CEO Keerthi
Kotagama handing over a pack of maize seeds to a farmer in the
Vellankulam area. |
At a ceremony held in Vellankulam Namal Rajapaksa MP distributed
maize seeds to 400 farmers. CIC Agri Businesses will provide the
necessary technical advice and other inputs to the farmers and have
agreed to buy back the harvest. The company plans to expand the farmer
network immediately to around 5,000 and later to 25,000 farmers to
produce 25,000 metric tonnes of maize annually.Sri Lanka needs around
240,000 metric tonnes annually for animal feed but was producing only
40,000 metric tonnes until recently.
However, after the initiation of the Maize Task Force in 2006 by
Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa the annual production has
increased to 140,000 metric tonnes, with a deficit of approximately
100,000 tonnes which is imported annually.
However with the Northern Province opening up and the initiative
taken by CIC Agri Businesses, the island's maize production is expected
to witness a rapid increase.
Over the years, global maize prices has seen an increase due to the
demand that has been generated for bio fuels. Hence, there appears to be
a considerable potential for maize and farmers are expected to benefit
from this global demand. |