Hayleys Agriculture cultivates seaweed in Mannar Basin

Friday, 22 August 2014 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Hayleys Agriculture Holdings Ltd. – the agribusiness arm of the Hayleys Group – commenced operations of its dry seaweed project in the Mannar Sea Basin recently. This project, implemented in the North Western coastal area of Sri Lanka, assists local fishing families to naturally cultivate a specific type of seaweed that has a growing global demand, especially in the food industry. The Mannar Sea Basin has been selected for this project because of its ideal climatic conditions for the purpose of natural seaweed cultivation. A molecular element called carrageenan which is extracted from the seaweed is used in the food industry, because of its gelling, thickening, and stabilising properties. Speaking at the special ceremony to mark the export of the first shipment of dry seaweed held on 21 August, Fisheries Minister Dr. Rajitha Senaratne stated: “This launch signifies a new step in the Sri Lankan fisheries industry. Today, the fisheries industry has entered a new era where the industry does not need to depend on fish alone. I am grateful to the Hayleys Group for investing in this venture and helping the country and the people of the north who suffered for 30 years due to the conflict. Industries such as these bring in precious foreign exchange to Sri Lanka, which will play a significant role in building the nation.” Hayleys Agriculture Holdings will supply the seeds, rafts, drying frames and the necessary training to the families selected for the project. This project will provide employment opportunities for the women of the impoverished fishing families in Vallaipadu and Eranamatha Nagar. This would allow the women to support their families with an additional income. “We at Hayleys Agriculture Holdings have embarked on this commercially viable project with the aim of contributing to the Sri Lankan economy by supporting the economic development of local coastal communities as well as generating foreign exchange,” stated Hayleys Chairman Mohan Pandithage in his address at the event. Hayleys’ partner in India AquAgri Ltd. has also provided technical and marketing support and will also assist in the value addition process. Hayleys Agriculture Managing Director Rizvi Zaheed said there is an increasing global demand for this product and a shortage of supplies. “Therefore, we have partnered with the National Aquatic Resources Research & Development Agency (NARA) and the National Aquaculture Development Authority of Sri Lanka (NAQDA) to take advantage of the ideal environment for seaweed cultivation in the country,” he added. The cultivated and processed sea weed is used to produce value-added products that have applications in a variety of industries such as food processing, agriculture and animal husbandry. Hayleys Agriculture Holdings is the agribusiness arm of Hayleys PLC and is involved in a vast array of agribusinesses including the marketing of all agricultural inputs, growing and processing of fruits and vegetables, production of hybrid flower seeds and tissue-cultured plantlets for the export market. It is also Sri Lanka’s largest fruit and vegetable exporter. Hayleys Agriculture is also a major supplier to world-renowned brands such as McDonalds, Burger King, Hungry Jack’s, Subway, Greendale, Unilever and Heinz.