Business
Cargills steps forward to purchase bumper tomato harvest, ensures farmer sustainability
* Timely intervention prevents farmers from dumping their crop on open fields
* Purchased over 30 metric tons of surplus tomato on April 26
* The deal favourable for farmers is akin to a forward commodity pricing arrangement
* Surplus tomato will be processed to manufacture KIST tomato sauce
by Sanath Nanayakkare
KIST food brand operated by Cargills Ceylon PLC, has stepped forward to help out farmers with their bumper tomato harvest. The move facilitates the farmers to sell their produce to the company five-fold the price they can obtain elsewhere as if in a forward commodity pricing arrangement.
At a time the farmers are compelled to sell their bumper tomato harvest for as low as Rs.10 a kilo, Cargills has entered into agreements with the farmers to buy it at Rs. 50 a kilo with the objective of ensuring farmer sustainability.
Cargills KIST purchased over 30 metric tons of surplus tomato on April 26 from local farmers in Gageyaya (Monaragala district), Welimada (Badulla district), and Wangiyakumbura (Badulla district). By doing so, the company mitigated the significant risk these farmers faced to discard a substantial portion of their harvest.
The surplus tomato will be processed to manufacture KIST tomato sauce, at the company’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Katana. It is the only Sri Lankan facility with aseptic processing capabilities which can convert and preserve fresh local tomato at highest quality standards, to use for tomato sauce production.
A farmer brings his harvest to check the box weight
This initiative underscores the company’s steadfast commitment to support the local farming community, with which it has had direct engagement for the last 25 years. By providing a consistent market for the farming community, the company is able to drive income to the rural economy and support livelihoods.
Cargills has made significant investments over the years to reduce post-harvest losses in the agriculture value chain in Sri Lanka.
The media had the opportunity to witness this initiative first-hand at Jeewangama, Thanamalwila on April 26. The distraught farmers began to flash a smile as they saw Cargills trucks were coming to their farms to purchase their bumper tomato harvest.
Farmer Malini chooses the best tomatoes to pick on her farm
Pix by Sanath Nanayakkare
Speaking to The Island, female farmer Malini said that tomato harvest has gone up substantially these days and the general market is not able to absorb the volumes they produce.
“As a result, the wholesale buyers of fresh vegetables in the market offer us only Rs. 10 for a kilogram of tomato. Tomato being a perishable produce, they know that we can’t wait for good selling conditions. Fortunately, Cargills has come to our rescue again. As you may recall from 2018, Cargills reached out to us to help out with bumper pumpkin harvest. We feel secure in our longstanding partnership with Cargills. The company has the capacity to use this tomato yield to make sauce, and we are assured that Cargills will buy any amount of tomato that will be harvested in the coming weeks at Rs. 50 a kilo. This price is five times higher than the price we can get elsewhere. Also, I must say that Cargills doesn’t differentiate the price depending on the size of tomato. If we go to other vendors, they sort the tomato into three size categories and quote different prices. Cargills doesn’t do that. They give us the agreed price regardless of the size of tomato. This is a great relief to us at this difficult time. One can imagine the pathetic condition of the post-harvest food loss if not for Cargills’ timely intervention,” she said.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
