Sewalanka to produce organic seeds

Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company to produce organic consumption seeds for export under BOI. The Board of Investment of Sri Lanka granted investment approval to Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company (Private) Limited. Mr. Dhammika Perera, Chairman/Director General signed the agreement on behalf of the BOI and formally presented the BOI Certificate of Registration to the Investors.

The investment agreement for Rs. 30 million signed with Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company (Private) Limited is for a project to produce organic consumption seeds for the export market and production of organic planting materials and agricultural products.

Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company (Pvt) Limited is a social enterprise that focuses on promoting food security, biodiversity and environmental sustainability through the production of organic planting materials and agricultural products.

Sewalanka Foundation, a registered not for profit, non-governmental organisation, is facilitating the establishment of the project as part of their objective to promote sustainable rural development by offering support and services in the development of agriculture.

The proposed investors in the Project are PARCIC of Japan and Sevalink Inc of USA.

The venture is expected to be located in Anuradhapura. The initial products will be organic red rice, organic black sesame (gingelly) and organic finger millet (kurukkan) with the required government and SriCert certifications. Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company will draw on existing farmer networks to establish an outgrower program.

Pure seed stock will be distributed to farmers in Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Vavuniya. The Company will help the outgrower farmers obtain organic certification, microfinance services and technical support as needed.

Once the seed supply is established and collection and quality control systems are in place, the program will be extended to other products and other parts of the island.

The Anuradhapura farm will serve as a collection point for the raw organic products which will be cleaned, processed, graded, packed and exported.

The venture has already made initial contact with potential buyers in USA and Japan. Since the venture is a social enterprise, the buyers emphasize 'fair and direct' trade and have verbally committed to providing technical assistance for quality control, product packaging and handling as well as export procedures.

Sewalanka Organic Seeds will purchase the products from the out-growers and will redistribute a portion of the profits through the farmer organizations.

This model will encourage more farmers to adopt 'better practices' and enhance Sri Lanka's capacity to export high quality organic seeds.

Directors of Sewalanka Organic Seeds Company, Dr. A. J. Kiessel and H. K. N. Weraduwa signed the agreement on behalf of the company.