Financial Times

Rural entrepreneurs learning from Thailand
By Iromi Perera
Geethika Kumari Pathirana, who is in the floriculture industry, went on the Entrepreneur Awareness Tour to Thailand, organized by the Agromart Foundation last year and said that it was a great experience where she learnt a lot. After she returned from the tour, she opened up her own food shop, while continuing her flower growing business.

This year, 36 people - 25 females and 11 males - embarked on this tour on May 7. These entrepreneurs from rural areas are touring Thailand for three weeks where they will get an in-depth knowledge of Thailand's agriculture, horticulture and small industries.

The programme started in 1989. It is sponsored by HIVOS and NOVIB, two Dutch co-financing agencies. The Agromart Foundation is a non-governmental organization serving the rural communities in Sri Lanka. It began in 1989 and currently operates in seven districts - Kurunegala, Chilaw, Galle, Matara, Hambantota, Ampara and Moneragala.

The Entrepreneur Development Training Programme (EDTP) is one of the major programmes conducted by Agromart Foundation. The programme aims to develop technical and management skills to promote sustainable enterprises. The participants are trained on agriculture, livestock and small industries.

Subsequent to the training they formed themselves in to Agromart Production Societies. Entrepreneur Development Training is followed by an Economic Literacy Training Programme conducted for the same participants to enhance their skills to develop and sustain a competitive business. The training programme includes subjects such as business planning, marketing and management skills and budgeting. Annually, 600 participants per district get trained in all seven districts.

In order to motivate entrepreneurs and encourage them for sustainability in their businesses, the Best Entrepreneur of the year competition is conducted annually with the Agromart Production Societies. The prizewinners are taken on a tour to Thailand planned as an intensive market awareness exercise. Second and third prizewinners are taken on a local tour to places of interest.

Many of the participants who went on the tour to Thailand in previous years said that going on the tour had enriched their knowledge on entrepreneurship and that they had been able to make better decisions about their businesses and careers upon returning. They also spoke of their observations of the active participation of women in the industries in Thailand. They said that it was a great boost and strength for them to see it.

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