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.

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.