Agribusiness Council forms farmer councils

Hiran H. Senewiratne

National Agribusiness Council (NAC) is now in the process of forming farmer councils in the country with the assistance of private/ public partnership, newly inducted President Asoka Gopallawa said.

He said currently five farmer councils are operating in the country while ten more farmer councils are expected to start very soon benefiting 1500 farmers in the country.

Sampath Bank has sponsored two farmer councils in Moneragala and Hambantota. The Nuwara Eliya farmer councils is sponsored by John Keells Holdings (JKH), Matale and Badulla farmer councils are being sponsored by MA's Tropical Food Processing Limited and Process Foods Development.

The Private/ Public partnerships crated during the year to facilitate several joint efforts may not have shown outstanding results immediately though the improvement of this working relationship with key officials within the ministries has created a platform for future dialogue and collaboration, he said.

Gopallawa said each farmer council has a membership between 100 to 150 farmers. It is now in the process of increasing the number of farmers through the farmer councils in the country.

NAC plans to popularise farmer councils in main agricultural areas in the country, which will benefit farmers to sell their produce at market prices, he said.

Gopallawa said the private /public partnership will help to promote latest innovative technology in the local agricultural sector in the country.