People's Leasing and Finance embarks on organic farming project

People's Leasing and Finance PLC (PLC) is embarking on a venture to change the public's view on food and to promote organic farming among the farming community.

The project will help farmers supplement their income through organic home gardens, to eventually convert their main farms to produce organic crops.

Recently, selected farmers from Avissawella and Kalutara were initiated in organic and home gardening at the Dilmah Conservation Sustainable Agriculture Research Centre (DCSARC) in Moratuwa, with the support of People's Leasing and Finance PLC.

Senior Manager, Risk Management and Control, Andy Ratnayake, Asst. Branch Manager, Avissawella, Iresh Dissanayake and Ranga Hewavithana of Badureliya branch, accompanied the 17 farmers.

An expert in organic farming Sarathchandra Fernando and manager of DCSARC, Buddhika Jayalath conducted the tour of the model farm.

The tour covered areas from non-chemical fertilisers, such as vermicompost created by the secretions of earth worms; natural pollination and insect repellents in the form of bees, birds and other insects; to various planting methods to maximise the efficient use of available land.

Literature was also provided to the participants. A question and answer session was held after the tour. Finally, seeds were presented to the visitors by the DCSARC.

PLC will support the selected farmers to set up their own home gardens, guided by experts and monitored throughout, to eventually extend the project to their main plots and to other districts under PLC's reach. This project was facilitated by the Sri Lanka Business and Biodiversity Platform, a joint venture of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Dilmah Conservation.