Grameen reaches farmers

by Anjana Samarasinghe

Ceylinco Grameen Products Co Limited tied up with Laugfs SunUp Supermarket Pvt Limited to purchase vegetables and fruits from Grameen member farmers to support them to find a market for their crops.

Deputy Chairman of the Ceylinco Grameen Group Victor Ratnayake said that today many farmers face difficulties in finding a reasonable price for their produce.

Middlemen purchase their crops at low prices. Through this venture, Ceylinco Grameen Products Co Ltd will buy vegetables and fruits mainly from its member farmers at higher prices than what is offered to them by middlemen.

"After crops being processed company makes arrangements to transport them safely, in less than 24 hours to SunUp supermarkets", he said.

Chairman of Laugfs SunUp Supermarket Pvt Limited W. K. H. Wegapitiya said that they are happy to associate with Grameen to promote farmers' lives and to increase their productivity.

"We expect to expand our Islandwide branch network and it will be a great opportunity for us to implement this venture in a more successful manner. There is a good market for imported canned vegetables and fruits. Lanka also should manufacture canned vegetables and fruits" he said . He said that there should be similar mechanism for milk farmers to find proper markets for their products and SunUp's always ready to support them.