Partnering with Farmers: The Roots of Sustenance Lanka
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When you buy a packet of Sustenance Lanka's herbal porridge or tea, you're not just buying a product – you're supporting a network of over 300 smallholder farmers across Sri Lanka. Our out-grower programme ensures that every leaf of polpala and every nelli fruit is traceable, sustainably harvested, and fairly purchased.
Meet the Farmers
In the village of Kumbukgeta, 62-year-old Kusuma Weerasinghe wakes before dawn to harvest polpala from her home garden. "I've been growing these greens for 40 years," she says, "but only now am I being paid fairly for them."
Through our programme, Kusuma receives training in organic cultivation, access to high-quality seeds, and a guaranteed price that's 30% above market rates. "I can now afford to send my grandchildren to school," she smiles.
Traceability from Leaf to Packet
Every batch of herbs that enters our facility is tagged with the farmer's name, harvest date, and GPS coordinates of where it was grown. This allows us to ensure quality and provide complete transparency to our customers.
"If a customer in Colombo has a question about a specific packet, we can tell them exactly which farmer grew those herbs," explains operations manager Thisuri Fernando. "That's how committed we are to transparency."
Beyond Fair Trade
Our programme goes beyond just paying fair prices. We provide:
- Free training in organic cultivation and post-harvest handling
- Access to micro-loans through our partnership with local banks
- Health insurance for farming families
- School supplies for farmers' children
- Regular health camps with free check-ups
The Impact So Far
Since launching our out-grower programme in 2020, we've seen remarkable results:
- Farmer incomes have increased by an average of 45%
- Over 100 acres of land are now under organic cultivation
- Three new farmer cooperatives have been formed
- Two community wells have been built in water-scarce areas
Join the Movement
Every purchase you make directly supports these farming families. When you choose Sustenance Lanka, you're choosing a food system that's fair, transparent, and sustainable.
Meet our farmers through the QR code on every packet – each one has a story to tell.