Cargills last week donated seedless grapes plants to Jaffna farmers under a trial cultivation launched in northern Sri Lanka.
Sonaka and Sharad seedless grapes plants were imported and donated to Jaffna farmers by Cargills on Saturday. The seedlings were distributed at the Department of Agriculture Training Centre in Thirunelvelli, Jaffna with Northern Province Governor Major General GS Chandrasiri gracing the occasion along with Dr. Jagdish Katyal, Director Consultant - Cargills Agribusiness and other Cargills officials. Cargills planned to distribute 5000 plants for the Jaffna grape cultivators, but only 2000 seedlings had arrived with plans for the balance 3000 plants to be distributed in coming weeks. The project is part of the National Horticultural (NHA Project), a joint project of Cargills Agrifoods Limited and USAID which focuses on improving the current state of fruit and vegetable farmers and palmyrah tappers of the Northern Province.
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| Handing over the seedlings |
The total project investment is Rs. 222 million, shared by USAID (Rs. 92.5 million) and Cargills (Rs. 129.5 million). The project primarily aims to enhance income and employability of the farmers and tappers. Dr. Jagdish Katyal noted that this project was of special significance towards uplifting the Northern agriculture sector. "Grapes are an iconic crop for Jaffna farmers but today they find it extremely challenging to compete with imported seedless grape varieties. Cargills took on the challenge of importing two seedless grape varieties and we have succeeded," he said. Cargills has said it will purchase the grape production from the farmers through vegetable collection centres established in Jaffna district. S. Sivakumar Director Agrarian Services, Northern Province said grapes are a marketable crop in Sri Lanka. Farmers spent an average Rs 81 to produce one kg of grapes which they then sell at Rs 200 per kg. Grapes are grown across 110 acres in the north.
Cargills partnered by the USAID would also be setting up a fruit and vegetable processing plant in Kilinochchi which would be a major boost towards agriculture development in the Northern region. |
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