Swiss expert team visits farmers, estates and other sites in the agri-ecosystem

A Swiss expert team on organic agriculture visited farmer communities across the country, both conventional as well as organic, in key locations such as Kalpitiya, Thambuttegama, Weliweriya, Radawanam, Ratnapura including visits to tea estates and a factory. They observed sites and facilities that play a pivotal role in the country’s agri-ecosystem, A Baur and Co. Ltd., the long-established Swiss firm, here said in a news release.

Baurs owned some of the best coconut estates in the country like Palugaswewa in Rajakaduwela (near Chilaw) before the land reforms, remains big in fertilizer and holds agencies for Swiss interests in many fields.

The team also visited the scenic lush green organic tea plantation of the eco-friendly Lake Serenity Resort & Spa at Kuruwita, Ratnapura. During their visit, they toured the Hidellana Tea Factory and witnessed its sustainable manufacturing process and practices including automations and energy-efficient equipment, the release said.

“With food waste increasing across the world, countries including Sri Lanka are actively deploying various initiatives to convert them into organic compost. The experts observed how garbage is collected from hotels for processing organic manure, including a tour to the Hotel Waste Management System at the Grand Hotel, Nuwara Eliya where the hotel’s management team walked them through the entire process and the steps taken towards a holistic long-term approach to waste management.

“Earlier this Month, the team observed the Kerawalapitiya waste management park where plans are underway to expedite the production capacity from 15 MT of bio-organic compost produced daily to around 50 MT.

“Taking into consideration the importance of other members in the ecosystem, they also toured a poultry farm at Ganemulla. Upon their return to Colombo the next day, they met and discussed with various key officials including the local country representative of International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movements (IFOAM), members of Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP), the umbrella organization of the National Agricultural Research System (NARS) operating within several Ministries, GIZ Sri Lanka, and Binesh Pananwala, CEO of Watawala Plantations PLC,” it said.

The expert team left for Switzerland on the August 10 after their diverse 10-day visit to study the country’s agriculture landscape. They will thereafter carry out an in-dept analysis and evaluation and provide scientific and practical recommendations for the nation to embrace an organic approach holistically.