Abdul Sathar Mohamed Ricas (L)and Shasika Pushpakumara
Text and pic by Sanath Nanayakkare
The Island Financial Review recently met two agriculture entrepreneurs in Poolachchanai on Kalpitiya road in Norochcholai: a 40-year-old-Sinhalese and a 37-year-old Muslim who own more than 40-acres of high yield crop land without any legal binding to individual claims.
40-year-old Shasika Pushpakumara and 37-year-old Abdul Sathar Mohamed Ricas say they are working so hard to expand their agri business with longstanding trust in each other and they don't have any time to think of any differences but their shared economc interests.
Ricas said, "We have grown with Cargills Food City chain and today we have become two of the main vegetable suppliers to the Cargills Food City. We supply Cargills with cabbage, beetroot, banana, guava and so on depending on seasonal demand.The two of us jointly own five acres of high yield vegetation with necessary infrastructure and resources. We supply more than 500 kilos of vegetables to Cargills supermarkets on a daily basis. In addition to it, we own a 35-acre coconut estate which is also a joint venture. None of these have a legal agreement to demarcate our ownership or authority over these assets. We share the risks and rewards on mutual trust and sincerity. Even the main commercial banks in the area are aware of this. And when we deliver vegetables to Cargills under my name or Shashika' s , the company credits the payment in favour of our joint account because the model of our partnership is well known to them. The reason being Cargills Agri Business officials are in constant touch with us to improve the quality and productivity of our produce according to consumer demand".
Ricas further said that he handles finance and operations of the business while Shasika handles the core agri-issues and labour and productivity issues. " My partner Shashika doesnt even know how much money is there in our jount account which is really active in credits and debits on any given business day. We are honest to each other and we only want to make sure that our finances are strong enough to reinvest in the business. Hard work and trust keep us going from strength to strength for which we are also thankful to Cargills for their sustained business relationship with us. In general, I must say that people in Norochcholai-Kalpitiya area are so busy with their farm work that they have little time to be bothered about racial differences", Ricas said.
Shasika said, "Over the past 20-years, our business relationship has fortified and it will continue to be so".
Asked whether they had never had any differences, a smiling Ricas said " "Well, when Shasika loses his temper on something, I keep my cool, and when it's my turn to lose temper, he returns the favour".
Abdul Sathar Mohamed Ricas (L)and Shasika Pushpakumara
Text and pic by Sanath Nanayakkare
The Island Financial Review recently met two agriculture entrepreneurs in Poolachchanai on Kalpitiya road in Norochcholai: a 40-year-old-Sinhalese and a 37-year-old Muslim who own more than 40-acres of high yield crop land without any legal binding to individual claims.
40-year-old Shasika Pushpakumara and 37-year-old Abdul Sathar Mohamed Ricas say they are working so hard to expand their agri business with longstanding trust in each other and they don't have any time to think of any differences but their shared economc interests.
Ricas said, "We have grown with Cargills Food City chain and today we have become two of the main vegetable suppliers to the Cargills Food City. We supply Cargills with cabbage, beetroot, banana, guava and so on depending on seasonal demand.The two of us jointly own five acres of high yield vegetation with necessary infrastructure and resources. We supply more than 500 kilos of vegetables to Cargills supermarkets on a daily basis. In addition to it, we own a 35-acre coconut estate which is also a joint venture. None of these have a legal agreement to demarcate our ownership or authority over these assets. We share the risks and rewards on mutual trust and sincerity. Even the main commercial banks in the area are aware of this. And when we deliver vegetables to Cargills under my name or Shashika' s , the company credits the payment in favour of our joint account because the model of our partnership is well known to them. The reason being Cargills Agri Business officials are in constant touch with us to improve the quality and productivity of our produce according to consumer demand".
Ricas further said that he handles finance and operations of the business while Shasika handles the core agri-issues and labour and productivity issues. " My partner Shashika doesnt even know how much money is there in our jount account which is really active in credits and debits on any given business day. We are honest to each other and we only want to make sure that our finances are strong enough to reinvest in the business. Hard work and trust keep us going from strength to strength for which we are also thankful to Cargills for their sustained business relationship with us. In general, I must say that people in Norochcholai-Kalpitiya area are so busy with their farm work that they have little time to be bothered about racial differences", Ricas said.
Shasika said, "Over the past 20-years, our business relationship has fortified and it will continue to be so".
Asked whether they had never had any differences, a smiling Ricas said " "Well, when Shasika loses his temper on something, I keep my cool, and when it's my turn to lose temper, he returns the favour".
