On November 14, Sri Lankan food brand KIST commemorated a new initiative to bolster the use of locally sourced tomatoes for value addition to its KIST sauce range, in partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) CATALYZE Sri Lanka Private Sector Development (PSD) Activity.
At an event held at the KIST manufacturing facility in Katana, Cargills Food and Beverage Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cargills (Ceylon) PLC signed buy-back agreements, with 40 selected farmers hailing from Thanamalwila and Thambuttegama.
Dennis Wesner, USAID/Sri Lanka and Maldives’ Economic Growth Deputy Office Director, and Arjuna Kumarasinghe, the Managing Director of Cargills Food and Beverage Limited attended the ceremony.
Farmers who participate in the program will receive guidance on good agricultural practices to ensure that tomatoes earmarked for KIST sauce production adhere to global standards.
Through this partnership with the private sector, USAID’s PSD activity is providing high-tech agricultural equipment and materials, while Cargills Bank is offering loans to farmers to meet their working capital requirements. Cargills Food and Beverage Limited, assures a buy-back contract to purchase tomatoes seasonally, provides technological expertise in agricultural modernisation, and extends support to minimise post-harvest losses.
This project aims to promote the use of locally sourced tomatoes in the renowned KIST sauce range, reducing the reliance on imports and driving income back to the rural agriculture community.
The Cargills Food and Beverage Limited Company, in collaboration with the USAID’s PSD activity launched this pioneering pilot program under USAID’s Food Solutions Grant program, to improve local tomato production through the incorporation of cutting-edge climate-smart agricultural technology.
The project seeks to elevate the quality of tomato produce to meet international standards (seasonal yields of 45,000 kilograms per hectare), while enhancing productivity and profitability for local tomato farmers.
Cargills endeavours to build on the successes of the pilot program to reach over 500 Agri MSMEs in the future.
USAID’s PSD activity aims to increase competitiveness and resiliency of Sri Lankan Agri-MSMEs, thereby improving the availability and accessibility of food and ultimately strengthening Sri Lanka’s overall food security and production.
The combined efforts of USAID and Cargills Food and Beverage Limited reflect their commitment to building resilient food systems and fostering sustainable agricultural practices that will positively impact the lives of individuals and communities, ultimately paving the way for a more secure and prosperous future.
Cargills Food and Beverage Limited is renowned for producing a wide range of food and beverages, under the brand KIST.
The company’s state-of-the-art production facility in Katana crafts international quality sauces, jams, fruit beverages, and condiments using fresh produce sourced from farmers across the nation.
