Hambantota Fair to boost food processing business

by L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

Leading private and public sector food processing organisations and related industries will participate in the Hambantota food processing fair 2006 scheduled to be held on June 17 and 18 in Tangalle.

It is organised by an international humanitarian organisation Mercy Corps and funded by J. P. Morgan Chase.

Reconstruction and Development Agency (RADA) and National Agribusiness Council (NAC) are the supporting local agencies for this event.

The economic assessment of the country conducted by the researchers cited food processing as a solid growth industry with minimal capital investment and widespread impact on the poorest population involved in food production.

Many small scale farmers and food processors in the Hambantota district as well as the Southern belt in general who do not have access to technologies required for improving food processing or marketing information. By bringing together national and local production entities the organisers hope to pave a new path among buyers, customers and even competitors who stand to learn from each others' best practices.

Explaining the objectives of the Fair, Country Director of Mercy Corps Josh de Wald, said that the Fair will assist local food processing entrepreneurs to reestablish and improve their food processing business through small grants, awards, training and developing a better business network.

Mercy Corps currently maintains five offices in Colombo, Ampara, Arugam Bay, Trincomalee and Hambantota.

According to de Wald the Hambantota office is currently assisting tsunami affected local entrepreneurs to reestablish and improve their business through developing better business networks.

The Hambantota district consists of four DS Divisions of Ambalantota, Tangalle, Tissamaharama and Hambantota.

Local food processing entrepreneurs from tsunami affected communities in the Hambantota district engage in their production activities using the raw materials of fruits, vegetables, milk, grains, nuts or fish. Mercy Corps expertise will be made available to all eligible participants new technology market linkage and training opportunities to support the development and growth of their food processing business.

Once the Fair is completed, participating local individual food processors will be invited to compete for grants to further develop their businesses. The workshops and seminars on food processing, presentations and demonstrations will be held at the same venue during the food processing fair.

National level equipment providers and suppliers, manufacturers and suppliers of food ingredients, vehicle and logistic providers, universities, public and private sector educational and vocational training institutions have been invited to participate in the food processing fair.

Manufacturers and suppliers of fruits and vegetables, dairy products, beverage producers, coconut based producers, fish dryers, spice producers and mill owners are expected to participate as exhibitors. Banks and financial institutions and chambers in the region have expressed their willingness to participate in the Fair.