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| Sunday, 28 November 2004 |
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Pepping up ginger production by Hiran H.Senewiratne The Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd (CCC), a subsidiary of John Keells Group has signed sales contracts with ginger farmers in Aludeniya in the Hataraliyadda area of the Kandy district. This is a sales contract program known as the 'Govi Sahanaya' introduced by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Under this program the company is buying Ginger direclty from farmers to manufacture Ginger Beer , CCC Sector Head- Food and Beverage Manufacturing, Jitendra R.Gunaratne said at a media conference recently. He said that this contract will generate a close relationship with ginger farmers and enable CCC to manufacture ginger beer from natural ginger. In the past few months Puajapitiya, area was also included into the agreement. According to Gunaratne the total project would benefit more than 250 farmers to earn an income through ginger cultivation. This will further assist approximately 1,500 people in the Hataraliyadda and Pujapitiya areas. "This project is much appreciated by farmers and their families, since they have a solid buyer for their ginger. In addition to that, new farmers are also now becoming interested in cultivating ginger," he said. "Through the increase in the amount of ginger available, CCC intends not only to increase its market share but also improve the lives and productivity of the ginger farmers," Gunaratne added. This move will not only generate sales of ginger but will also be a funding source to meet the expansion plans of farmers in the area, he said. The company is currently exporting Ginger Beer to Australia, Thailand, India, Dubai, Oman, USA and Switzerland and is the market leader among locally manufactured Ginger Beer. The company has a market share of 90 per cent at present. Aludeniya, Agriculture Instructor D.M Abeyaratne said that they intend to produce 30,000 Kg of dry ginger during the April season next year. At present more than 120 farmers are cultivating ginger in a area of 40 acres, he said. |
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