The National Organic Control Unit (NOCU) – the competent authority for Organic Agriculture in Sri Lanka, set up under the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) – launched its initiative to promote organic agriculture islandwide.
As a part of this effort, the first awareness program was conducted at Sleek Hotel in the Kegalle district recently. Around 80 people were present.
The program also highlighted the contribution of NOCU to organic farming in terms of its role to promote a credible organic agriculture value chain. The participants, representing various sectors of the agriculture industry, gained valuable insights into organic farming techniques, certification processes, organic standards, and market opportunities.
As the regulatory body overseeing activities within the island’s organic agricultural sector, the main objective of NOCU is to protect the credibility of organic agricultural products that are imported, exported, and sold in the local market as a reliable source for consumers. NOCU has scheduled six comprehensive awareness programs islandwide aimed at educating farmers, exporters, processors, and relevant government officials on Organic Agriculture, including principles of Organic Agriculture and farming practices, Sri Lankan organic standards and organic certification procedures as well as marketing prospects for organic agricultural products.
Implementing awareness programs is essential as the island has immense opportunities in the organic agricultural sector.
District Secretary, Kegalle, J.M.R.P. Jayasinghe and Additional District Secretary, Kegalle, D.N. Gamalathge also spoke.
The Export Agriculture Division of the EDB organised the event under the guidance of Director, Export Agriculture, Janak Badugama,
