Sri Lanka: Northern farmers look for markets in South for organic products

General Manager (GM) of the Vavuniya North Fruit Growers Cooperative Society (VNFGCS) Uthayasooriyan Kirupakaran yesterday appealed to traders, supermarket chains and exporters in the southern parts of the country to come forward to help them market their organic products.

"When the farmers receive good prices for their produce, the rural economy will improve and the beneficiaries will be the ordinary people."

Kirupakaran made the appeal yesterday (14) following the restoration of Yaal Devi rail Services up to Jaffna by President Mahinda Rajapaksa. He said he was speaking on behalf of the farmers of the Northern Province.

The UNFGCS GM said that they were based in Sanasi Paranthan in Puliyankulam, Vavuniya North and worked towards uplifting the living conditions of the war affected farmer community in the North who produced organic vegetables and fruits for the local and export market.

There are over one thousand members of the farmer society who produced organic red papaya, passion fruit, mango, banana, ginger, turmeric and all types of vegetables.

Kirupakaran said the northern farmers supplied their produce to the traders direct without depending on the middleman. That was a win-win situation for both sides.

Source: island.lk