Cargills Fund empowers children towards education
Boralanda Farmer Community Development Fund empowers more than 80 children towards education
Cargills (Ceylon) PLC recently distributed Rs 1.2 million worth of scholarships and other benefits to the Boralanda farmer community as part of the Cargills Farmer Community Development Fund established in Wangiyakumbura in the Uva province.
This disbursement of benefits comes as part of the annual community development initiative planned by Cargills in 2011 when it first established a collection centre in Boralanda. The project initiative was partnered by the Ministry of Agriculture and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The Collection Centre brings together the produce from five villages in Boralanda. The target beneficiaries are the smallholder farmers in the region with a land extent less than an acre.
50 cents back to the community against each kilogram purchased
Explaining the project, Cargills Manager – Agribusiness Ranjith Upali said, “Every time Cargills buys a kilogram of vegetables from the farming community in Boralanda, 50 cents goes back to a community development fund. Annually the funds are utilised for scholarships and projects that would develop the quality of life of this community.”
More than 80 students empowered towards education
Accordingly, Scholarships were awarded to students who have passed Grade 5 Scholarship exams while a further 68 students from families facing economic challenges were also granted learning material.
In addition a resting hut and chairs was donated to the Farmer Society while agricultural equipment was distributed among farmers. On the request of the community water tanks were donated towards five schools in the region while material was also provided towards the development of community road network.
Cargills Food City also provided HNB Farmer Insurance schemes for 100 farmers free of charge. The scheme entitles famers to death, accidental death, disability and permanent disability covers as well as hospitalisation benefits.
Not a Buyer but a Partner to the agriculture community
Cargills Deputy General Manager – Agribusiness Haridas Fernando added, “We have developed a similar fund at our collection centres in Thanamalwila, Jaffna and Moneragala. Our method in establishing partnerships with farmer communities is not simply to be a buyer. He added, “Our agribusiness team works directly with farmers to overcome challenges, providing knowledge and resources to help farmers succeed. Across Sri Lanka thousands of farmers have participated in Cargills productivity and product quality enhancing programs. We have committed to expanding this program to a larger farmer base island wide to help improve efficiencies and increase incomes, thereby enhance agriculture and improve livelihoods.”
