Small producers from the Northeast recently met with buyers from Ceylon Cold Stores Ltd, John Keells, Jay Kay Marketing and Cargills Ltd among others, to establish business relationships that would enable producer organisations to expand their business.
The Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and Oxfam GB organized the meeting in which others were Tasty Ltd, Rabeena Food, and Rural Enterprise Network.
The purpose of the event was to allow for the development of market linkages, between the producers and buyers. The event also served as an opportunity for participating companies to communicate information on current market trends to these small-scale producers, according to an Oxfam press release.
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| Here Sharmila Nazreen Jerad (with her son) displaying her palmyrah handicrafts |
Sharmila Nazreen Jerad, a Palmyrah handicrafts producer and Secretary of Puthukudiyuruppu Women’s Rural Development Society (WRDS) from Trincomalee, said, “By participating in this meeting, I have received orders and contacts which I hope will strengthen our links with both the international and local markets”.
Producers, who had travelled from Mannar, Vavuniya, Trincomalee and Batticaloa, had on display over 50 agricultural products. Displayed items included rice, rice flour, dairy products such as ghee and milk toffees, palmyrah bi-products and handicrafts, fresh and dehydrated fruits and vegetables.
The exhibition was organized as part of the Business for Peace Initiative (BPI) of the FCCISL, which is a national endeavour to harness the support of the business community to facilitate the cause of peace building in the country. FCCISL joined forces with Oxfam GB to host this event because Oxfam GB is active in strengthening and developing producer organizations, especially women managed, in the Northern and Eastern provinces in paddy, dairy, and market garden sectors. |
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