National Agribusiness Council’s contribution to the growth of the sector can be listed under following categories
1) Policy Dialogue
2) Research
3) Trade Fairs
4) Awarding the Agribusiness community
5) Publications
6) Technical transfer programmes
7) Social Service
8) Strengthening of Member Associations
9) Creation Of Farmer Councils
10) Setting up of Regional Centers
1) Policy Dialogue
Under the trade policy changes “Government introduce stable and uniform
rate of protection for local food producers” (thru the 2002 budget)
Need assessment and corrective action report given to EU delegation
Agbiz forum 2006 -
Agribusiness Policy Paper
Agbiz forum 2007 – Connecting Communities
Creation of a green channel to assist the export of perishable goods
Land for High Tech cultivation program
2) Research
NAC managed the contract research program under Second Perennial Crop Project
Topics and the out come of the research project is listed below
1. Development of Renewable Energy Based Pepper Drying Technology for The Medium and Large Scale Growers and Collectors – Patent dryer most popular spice drier
2. Development of Technology for fruit salad / cocktail in sugar syrup with extended shelf life at ambient temperature utilizing tropical fruits – Commercial products are marketed successfully
3. Development of technology to produce non / carbonated soft drinks for the market by using Nutmeg rind & Cinnamon bark extractions. Products have been patented. Awaiting commercial production.
4. Fabrication and testing of a low cost small scale solvent extractor for spices for production of spice oleoresin - Unit developed and available for replication used in the above drink producing project.
5. Investigating processing methodologies and Design / Fabrication of curing unit for commercial scale processing, value addition and packing of vanilla for export market – Commercially operational.
6. Testing of new technology for sustainable sea shipments of fresh Pineapple- Technology developed and available for commercial application.
7. Evaluation of non-traditional exotic high value fruits in dry zone utilizing hi-tech cultivation techniques- Commercially successful. Model farm trains interested farmers on cultivation of new fruits.
8. Development & mechanization of the de-seeding for processing of Rambutans Technology developed and available for commercial application.
9. Aglaonema (High commercial value foliage plant) Breeding Project –Potential Commercially valuable morphologically attractive plants have emerged and need to test the DNA proximity, delayed due to slow growth.
10. Study on the effect of Drip irrigation on cultivation of some fruit crops in Hambantota. Final results are promising and could be popularized.
11. Developing a centre for acclimatizing tissue-culture banana seedlings at farmer-level and to study the potential for development of a market for tissue-cultured plants- System could be adapted with situational adaptations.
12. Development of protocols for the micro-propagation of four selected bamboo species (Bambusa vulgaris var. vitata, B ventricos, Gigantocloa atroviolacea and Dendrocaalmus giganteus – mutant) of promising economic value – Protocols have been developed and technology could be transferred to interested parties
3) Trade promotion and trade Fairs
Joint organizer of Pro food / Pro Pac Trade Fair- Exhibiting the Food Processing
Industry to the country
Inauguration fair in 2002
Second trade fair in 2003
Third trade fair in 2004
Organized Japanese floriculture trade delegation visit
Organized the Ag-Biz Exhibition and Trade Fair. Showcasing the full span of
the Agribusiness Sector.
Inauguration fair in 2006 with over thirty five (35) stalls
Second successive fair in 2007 with over forty five (45) stalls
4) Awarding the Agribusiness community
National Farmer Award– Private sector recognition of district and national
level result oriented farmers with awarding of useful farmer implements
2006 Program with district awards and first three places on National level
2007 Program with district awards and first three places on National level
Ag-Biz awarded for Corporate Sector – Recognizing Private sector contributors
to the growth of Agribusiness
2006 Program
2007 Program corporate were recognized under 13 different categories.
5) Publications
NAC funding for associations have been used for sector related publications such as directories,. Some market related publications were produced by NAC under the Second Perennial Crop Project and are listed below.
1. Papaya - Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling: Recommendations for Marinating Post Harvest Quality
2. Pineapple- Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling: Recommendations for Marinating Post Harvest Quality
3. Banana- Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling : Recommendations for Marinating Post Harvest Quality
4. Mango- Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling : Recommendations for Marinating Post Harvest Quality
5. Vanilla- Strategic Guide for Vanilla Marketing
6. Floriculture- Market information repots
7. Bell Pepper- Tips for production
8. Gerbera- Product Specification
9. “Study the consumption and Export patterns of Vegetables with a view to identifying the variations and the reasons for such variations”
10. “Adjustment of planting time for selected Vegetables an Analysis of price fluctuation”
11. “Brief report on the Sri Lanka Fresh Fruit & Vegetable and Agro Based Food Processing Sector”
12. 1st Quarter Market Information Report “Fruits”
13. Market Information Report on Papaya (Harvesting and Post Harvest Handling : Recommendations for Marinating Post Harvest Quality)
14. Market Information Report Banana (An Analysis of the World Trade)
15. “ The Cut Flower and Foliage export market of Sri Lanka”
16. Market Information Report “ Orchid: Cymbidium”
17. Market Information Report “ Cardamom”
18. Market Information Report Clove Price
19. Status of Vanilla Cultivation and Processing in Sri Lanka
20. Spice Sector in Sri Lanka
21. 1st Quarter Market Information Report “Spice”
22. 1st Quarter Market Information Report “ Processed Food”
6) Technical Transfer Programmes
NAC funding for associations have been used for sector related workshops, training programs and Field visits. Moreover programs have been directly organized by NAC and are listed below
Skill development program with 45 SME’s in August 2004
Seminar on “How to successfully manage your business”
Development in Organic Production Sector
Workshop on Home Garden management and landscaping
Workshop on Vanilla
Project proposal writing workshop
Agribusiness Field visits Dambulla / Gannoruwa and Kalagedihena
Visit by Coconut growers to Dambulla & Palvehera on intercropping
Skill Development Field Tour on Protected Agriculture, Food processing, Hybrid
Plant Nurseries and out grower networks
7) Social Service
BIMST-EC Secretariat duties
Took the lead roll in the formation of the Corporate Social Responsibility
Co-organizer of supply of vegetables to the tsunami affected population
Coordination of the Indian Line of Credit for Agriculture Projects
Installation of two multipurpose driers in Mahawa and Galenbidunuwewa
8) Strengthening of Member Association
1. 1st phase – Secretarial Services and Funding of activities 2001
2. 2nd phase - Secretarial Services and Funding of activities 2002/3
3. 3rd phase - Secretarial Services and Funding of activities 2005
4. 4th Phase - Secretarial Services and selective funding
5. 5th Phase – Partial Secretarial Services and Office Space for Secretariat
9) Creation of Farmer Councils
In order to assist farmers to link with markets and coordinate with market’s demands farmers have been collectivize in to farmer councils currently ten such councils exist. These are located in the following areas
| District | Division | Date of Inauguration | |
| 1 | Hambantota | Suriyawewa | 21.02.2007 |
| 2 | Monaragala | Weherayaya | 22.02.2007 |
| 3 | Gampaha | Dompe | 23.02.2007 |
| 4 | Puttalam | Mampuriya | 24.02.2007 |
| 5 | Badulla | Bandarawela | 20.03.2007 |
| 6 | Galle | Ambalangoda | 23.03.2007 |
| 7 | Ampara | Ampara | 23.03.2007 |
| 8 | Matale | Lenadora | 24.03.2007 |
| 9 | Kurunegala | Minuwagate | 10.05.2007 |
| 10 | Kandy | Wattegama | 28.06.2007 |
| 11 | Nuwara Eliya | Nuwara Eliya | 11.01.2008 |
Inauguration meeting of Farmer Council was held on 14 th December 2006. Representing
12 districts of the country ( Badulla, Polonnaruwa Kurunagela, Galle, Kandy,
Matale, Hambantota, Monaragela , Ampara,Gampaha,Anuradapura, Puttalam)
A meeting with Regional Representatives of farmer council was held on 9 th
January 2007
A discussion on Product Discounts with Marketing Managers of Prestigious
Companies held on 9th February 2007. Many companies such as Hayleys, Ceypetco,
Jinasena, Best Seeds, Unipower, Samarakoon Seed Company agreed to give discounts
for selected products and support the Farmers’ Council of Sri Lanka,
on behalf of the National Agribusiness Council.
· These farmer councils have come together to form the Federation Inaugurated
on 21st of July 2007
· Farmers Day of Regional Farmer Council - Monaragala was held on 17 th May 2007 at Hadapanagala. 73 farmers participated to the workshop and it consisted with 3 main events. Chille cultivation and preparation of Red Clille, Food processing (chutney, source& cordial) & a veterinary clinic.
· Project Report of buy back poultry marketing was submitted on 8 th August 2007 to FAO. Collaborate with The Nelna Farms (Pvt) Ltd, The Project objective was to encourage the members of the Kurunagala Regional farmer council for poultry farming.
· A Buy Back Project on Green Gram cultivation was launched in Monaragala District collaborating with Plenty Foods Pvt. Ltd.
10 ) Setting up of Regional Centers
Each of the farmer councils will be supported by a Regional center. Work
on sourcing funds and personnel for these centers have been carried out in
the last few months. Four officers for the Regional Centres have been recruited
and action will be taken to open Regional Centres in Monaragala, Matale, Badulla
and Hambantota soon.
