Hayleys Agro has launched a new programme in partnership with the farmer community in the Eastern province to produce 5,000 metric tons of Gherkin and 100,000 bushels of seed paddy in this area by 2011.

MOUs and purchase agreements entered into with members of the Akkaraipattu Seed Producers Society and gherkin farmers envisage that Hayleys Agro would introduce new technology in agriculture and provide training and best practices to improve productivity and quality, in a new and broader engagement with these farmers and their organisations.

The company has also put in place a buy-back arrangement assuring farmers of a consistent price for their seed paddy and gherkins. Additionally, Hayleys Agro would contribute to capacity building, provide assistance on post harvest handling and market access and set up a seed paddy processing unit in the Eastern province, the company said.

"This programme is a win - win proposition for the agriculture sector of the Eastern province as it will create opportunities for seed paddy farmers and gherkin farmers to earn higher incomes through enhanced productivity," Hayleys PLC Agri Sector Head Rizvi Zaheed said.

He said the new programme is intended to be catalyst for new model of agricultural partnerships that bring together all the stakeholders including farmers, banks and development organizations to work to achieve production targets.

Mr. Zaheed disclosed that Hayleys Agro plans to work with 2,500 farmers in the Eastern Province in order to achieve the targeted Gherkin production by 2011. The total income expected to be generated through this project is around Rs. 100 million. Hayleys Agro also plans to enlist 800 paddy farmers with access to 400 hectares of paddy for its seed paddy project which would earn about Rs. 75 million.

The formal launch of the company’s Eastern Province project began with a programme titled ‘Hayleys Partnering with Eastern Province Farmers’ at the Ampara Town Hall recently. Hayleys Agro Farms, a subsidiary of Hayles Agro Products and Sunfrost (Pvt) Ltd, subsidiary of Hayleys will partner the farmer community in the Eastern province in the implementation of this programme.

The inauguration was attended by Dr. T. Navaratnarajah, Minister for Agriculture, Animal Production and Development, Rural Industries Development and Fisheries of the Eastern Provincial Council and Mr. Mobitel CEO, Suren Amarasekera presenting the sponsorship cheque to General Manager, Hilton Residence, Manesh Fernando.Sunil Kannangara, District Secretary, Ampara, Mr. V. Pathmanathan – Acting Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Production and Development, Rural Industries Development and Fisheries of the Eastern Provincial Council, Mr. S.M. Hussein – Provincial Director, Dept. of Agriculture, Eastern Province and Mr. Z.M. Jaufer, Head of UNDP, Ampara. Distributors of Hayleys Agro Products, the President and Secretaries of the Akkaraipattu Seed Producers Society and over 400 seed paddy outgrowers and gherkin outgrowers were also present.

All farmers who were present at this function were given a mango sapling as a gift by Hayleys Agro.

Sunfrost Ltd. is the only exporter of Gherkins from Sri Lanka and supplies world renowned fast food outlets such as MacDonald’s, Burger King and consumer brands such as Heinz. Sunfrost enjoys a market share of 50 per cent in the Japanese pickled gherkin market. Currently Sunfrost has over 6000 out grower farmers within its network who supply the company with gherkins.