Hayleys Agriculture cultivates seaweed in the Mannar Basin
View(s):Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd, the agri-business arm of the Hayleys Group, recently began its dry seaweed project in the Mannar Sea Basin.
This project, implemented in the North Western coastal area of Sri Lanka, assists local fishing families to naturally cultivate a specific type of seaweed that has a growing global demand, especially in the food industry.
The Mannar Sea Basin has been selected for this project because of its ideal climatic conditions for the purpose of natural seaweed cultivation. A molecular element called Carrageenan which is extracted from the seaweed is used in the food industry, because of its gelling, thickening, and stabilising properties, the company said in a media release.
Speaking at the special ceremony to mark the export of the first shipment of dry seaweed, Dr. Rajitha Senaratne, Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development, said “This launch signifies a new step in the Sri Lankan fisheries industry. Today, the fisheries industry has entered a new era where the industry does not need to depend on fish alone. I am grateful to the Hayleys Group for investing in this venture and helping the country and the people of the North who suffered for 30 years due to the conflict. Industries such as these bring in precious foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, which will play a significant role in building the nation.”
Hayleys will supply the seeds, rafts, drying frames and the necessary training to the families selected for the project. This project will provide employment opportunities for the women of the impoverished fishing families in Vallaipadu and Eranamatha Nagar. This would allow the women to support their families with an additional income.
Hayleys Agriculture Managing Director Rizvi Zaheed said there is an increasing global demand for this product and a shortage of supplies. “Therefore, we have partnered with the National Aquatic Resources Research and Development Agency (NARA) and the National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA) to take advantage of the ideal environment for seaweed cultivation in the country,” he added.
Hayleys Agriculture is involved in a vast array of agribusinesses including the marketing of all agricultural inputs, growing and processing of fruits and vegetables, production of hybrid flower seeds and tissue-cultured plantlets for the export market. It is also Sri Lanka’s largest fruit and vegetable exporter. Hayleys Agriculture is also a major supplier to world-renowned brands such as McDonalds, Burger King, Hungry Jack’s, Subway, Greendale, Unilever and Heinz.