Wayamba Group to open first Export Village

Maize production increases by around 30 mt:

Shirajiv Sirimane

For the first time an export village is to be set up in Galenbidunuwewa in Anuradhapura by the private company on October 6. This initiative is being taken by the Wayamba Group which has already made history by becoming the first company to export maize.

Managing Director of the company, S. H. Sadikeen speaking to Daily News Business said that thanks to the initiatives made by the government, today Sri Lanka is self sufficient in maize and the excess is now being exported to Taiwan and Brunei.

Minister Basil Rajapaksa loading the first shipment for export. Managing Director Wayamba Group S. H. Sadikeen looks on.

“This has helped Sri Lanka to earn more than US $ 300 million and most importantly is helping to narrow the import, export deficit.”

Local production of maize was around 190 metric tons and with regular exports, the production has now increased by around 30 mt.

He said that though it was more expensive for buyers in Brunei and Taiwan to purchase maize from Sri Lanka they keep on buying from Wayamba Group due to its high quality.

It has also created an additional demand which currently the company cannot meet. “This was the reason why we decided to set up this export village firstly to increase production,” he said.

Sri Lankan maize is being used to produce nutritional foods and also used for animal feed.

Sadikeen disclosed that the government is fully behind this project and has also pledged to provide hybrid maize seeds imported from Taiwan to the value of Rs.10 million to be distributed on October 6, to over 800 out growers who in turn would cultivate over 2,000 areas.

“We must thank President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Minister of Agriculture, Mahinda Yapa Abeywardane and Secretary to the Minister W. Sakalasuriya for going out of the way to help this project,” he said.

Sadikeen said that the Wayamba Group would also be investing around Rs. 10 million towards this export village concept which would also include a plant nursery.

“This would be for the first stage and we would re invest a further Rs. 190 million to have a processing factory where the company would be able to do value addition in Sri Lanka and re export,” he said.

He said that their aim is to double maize export earning to Rs. 600 million and give a better earning to the rural community.

“Thanks to this project our growers who were living in cadjan houses are now living in better conditions as their earning and living conditions have tremendously increased. Now they get a steady income they also do not need to pawn their jewellery and be in debt.”

Plans are also underway to ink a MoU with their Taiwan buyer to guarantee more maize sales. He also disclosed plans to grow ‘sesame’, mainly targeting the Japanese market which could be harvested in just 45 days.