NFPB to promote indigenous food

Ridma DISSANAYAKE

The National Food Promotion Board (NFPB) which is under the purview of the Agriculture Ministry is to produce and promote a number of natural and indigenous food items for the local market to create a healthy generation.

There is a good demand in the market for indigenous food in Sri Lanka and a majority of people have demonstrated their preference for locally popular food. Because of this the National Food Promotion Board has taken measures to produce several local food items and promote them in the market.

According to Food Promotion Board sources, the NFPB have produced several products, such as, Suwaposha, Sun Mack, special rice flour and Thosai flour mixture. They have also introduced several Carbonic fertilizer products and special fertilizer mixtures for home gardening. Suwaposha is the most nutritious supplementary food item suitable for children, pregnant mothers, patients and those engaged in strenuous jobs.

Dr. K.H. Sarananda and Dr. D.B.T. Wijeratne are the food and nutritious specialists in the Agriculture Ministry and the Suwaposha supplementary food item is produced under their guidance with calcium and several vitamins as the chief ingredients. Soya, red rice and greengram are the other ingredients of this product and now anyone has the opportunity to buy this product from the market at a fair price.

A special rice and Thosai flour mixture is produced at the Kalankuttiya rice flour factory. No artificial chemical is used in this production process.

The construction of another rice flour factory is also under way to produce enough rice flour to meet the market demand. Sun Mack is a natural fruit drink produced in a factory at Wilamulla, Tissamaharama and all fruits which are used for this production are purchased from local farmers. No artificial colours or chemicals are added to the fruit drink, jam, cordial and chutney as well are produced here.

The National Food Promotion Board under the programme of promoting urban agriculture has established market centres in Dehiwala and Narahenpita. Flowers and fertilizer are also available at these centres.