Agro National Corporation Limited (AgroNat) has started supplying equipment to farmers under the start-up packages introduced to assist local farmers.
The start-up package was introduced along with a contract farming project. The state-owned company conducts contract farming project in 44 islands and farmers from those islands are eligible to apply for the start-up package.
According to AgroNat, over 50 percent of the farmers from 44 islands have applied for the start-up package. The corporation revealed equipment and products have been received and would be provided at a lower rate than the market prices, adding dispatching the equipment to the islands has been delayed due to transportation issues following the COVID-19 restrictions. AgroNat stated efforts are underway to dispatch all equipment by the end of June.
AgroNat was established by the government to market agricultural produce from local farms and provide a better income for farmers. The company has established contracts with farmers to produce 17 different types of fruits and vegetables. Some of the items produced under contract farming include pumpkin, eggplant, melon, papaya, watermelon, butter nuts, tomato, cucumber, beans, capsicum, lettuce and cabbage.