THE MARKET
CIC Agribusiness operates throughout Sri Lanka’s total agriculture worth chain from seeds, fertiliser and crop safety, to R&D, farmer advisory and downstream meals merchandise. It enjoys market management in all agri enter classes – produced regionally, and likewise via world partnerships with worldwide gamers similar to Syngenta, Yara and Corteva Agri Sciences.
The corporate works with farmers throughout the nation whereas supporting over 10,000 outgrower farmers underneath a buyback settlement mannequin. Its operations embody key crop sectors similar to paddy, maize, coconut, tea and sugarcane, combining trendy agronomy and native data to reinforce yields and sustainability. CIC’s give attention to high quality, analysis and improvement, along with farmer empowerment, have positioned it as Sri Lanka’s foremost agribusiness.
ACHIEVEMENTS
The corporate has developed from its agrochemical roots into Sri Lanka’s most diversified agribusiness, reworking the nation’s agricultural worth chain. What started as a chemical provider is now an organization providing full options – from seed to shelf – constructed on innovation, analysis and the revival of former state farms into mannequin enterprises.
CIC turned one among Sri Lanka’s first non-public traders in agricultural R&D, recruiting scientists to develop low glycaemic rice and premium fragrant varieties similar to basmati and Thai jasmine. It additionally launched hybrid seed strains corresponding to imports, and established a nucleus and outgrower mannequin that now engages over 10,000 farmers.
The corporate distinguishes itself by pairing gross sales with agronomy experience and prioritising safer inputs – nearly all of its crop safety vary is assessed in environmentally accountable Lessons 3 and 4. Productiveness enhancement programmes have achieved measurable outcomes: tea smallholders elevated yields by 20-25 p.c, sugarcane by 30-40 p.c and maize productiveness doubled nationwide averages.
CIC owned farms produce round 90 coconuts per tree yearly, which is twice the nationwide common. The corporate has additionally invested high-end functionality and capability to provide rice of superior high quality and vitamin.
HISTORY
CIC’s agribusiness journey started in 1964 as a provider of agrochemicals. In 1991, the corporate acquired British American Tobacco’s (BAT) fertiliser operation, making fertiliser a second key pillar alongside crop safety. A defining milestone got here later within the decade, when CIC via the Public Enterprise Reform Fee leased and revived a number of loss making state farms as thriving fashions. This transfer added licensed seeds to its portfolio and laid the inspiration for an built-in agribusiness.
The farms included the biggest privately managed dry zone operation in Hingurakgoda, focussing on seed paddy improvement and manufacturing, and a 750 acre farm in Dambulla – dwelling to the corporate’s R&D canter, which additionally produces vegetable seed, fruits and perennials. CIC took the harder street by embedding itself inside rural communities – it confronted early hostility however finally gained respect as an organization that stood beside farmers.
Its subsequent leap was into non-public sector agricultural analysis. CIC recruited main scientists and developed wholesome rice varieties and high-yield hybrid seeds, establishing a robust home R&D base. It additionally launched digital and precision applied sciences – drones, distant sensing and guarded cultivation controls – and launched a farmer tech hub that permits growers to share pictures and obtain professional steering.
An integral and distinctive pillar in CIC’s agri journey has been the personalized on floor technical coaching and assist offered to farmers. It has engaged in a concerted effort to teach and onboard youth and the following era of farming communities, by means of rising strategies and pilot initiatives, offering assurances to modernise and improve productiveness and yields.
Its product portfolio grew from inputs to downstream strains: Golden Crop rice, CIC Dairies and Fresheez shops. CIC additionally pioneered branding and variants in rice, to maneuver shoppers past generic samba rice. Internationally, it started exporting rice to ethnic markets and securing registrations in elements of Southern Africa. All through, the corporate has maintained its dedication to high quality, transparency and sustainability, backed by world partnerships and safer product portfolios.
THE PRODUCT
CIC supplies an end-to-end portfolio spanning seeds, fertiliser, crop safety, analysis and farmer advisory. Its seed vary consists of licensed seed paddy and hybrid vegetable varieties developed via long-term R&D. Fertiliser choices mix standard vitamin with new era plant vitamins and organo mineral blends that steadiness chemical and natural parts.
The crop safety portfolio options over 70 p.c of merchandise labeled in environmentally safer Lessons 3 and 4, supported by partnerships with world innovators similar to Syngenta. Via its Golden Crop rice, Dairies and Fresheez manufacturers, CIC delivers trusted client merchandise rooted in its personal farms.
Expertise stays central to its operations: its cellular tech hub connects farmers with agronomists whereas drones and distant sensing improve subject diagnostics and precision farming. Protected agriculture – via greenhouses and polytunnels – helps constant local weather resilient manufacturing. The nucleus and outgrower mannequin hyperlinks over 10,000 farmers via buyback agreements, making certain secure markets, data switch and shared worth creation.
Increased productiveness for farmers, bettering their livelihoods, and superior vitamin for shoppers and the nation to nurture and uplift lives, type the twin goal that governs each determination the corporate makes and each product it markets, from enter to output.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
The corporate has commissioned a Rs. 600 million state-of-the-art rice processing facility utilizing Japanese know-how, doubling capability and bettering meals security and high quality requirements. Its tea smallholder programme to enhance high quality of tea leaves has superior to manufacturing facility stage verification with 24 factories allocating separate withering troughs underneath Sri Lanka Tea Board oversight. This traceable mannequin in its pilot stage has demonstrated the opportunity of farmers commanding premiums of Rs. 10 to 50 per kilogramme.
It has pioneered the manufacturing of hybrid seeds in chilli, capsicum and eggplant enabling partial substitution of expensive imported seeds. At coverage stage, CIC’s productiveness demonstrations have influenced plans for a nationwide programme underneath a public non-public partnership (PPP), initially focussing on paddy and maize. The corporate has additionally expanded its affect to assist and upskill protected cultivation to round 800 growers, supported by monetary partnerships with native banks.
Export enlargement stays a precedence: CIC is focusing on mainstream retail markets similar to Coles in Australia, exploring alternatives within the EU, and progressing hybrid seed trials in Bangladesh and India. Coconut and sugarcane productiveness initiatives proceed, benchmarking towards prime performing regional fashions in Kerala and India.
PROMOTION
CIC’s promotional strategy is pushed by on floor training and demonstration slightly than conventional promoting. The corporate conducts structured subject programmes, demonstration plots and manufacturing protocols, enabling farmers to expertise outcomes firsthand. Tea smallholders are organised into clusters led by educated chief farmers, creating peer studying and fast adoption of technical and product data.
Its tech hub cellular advisory enhances engagement by permitting growers to share subject pictures and obtain professional suggestions with advanced points escalated to analysis our bodies. CIC collaborates with universities on baseline and follow-up research, making certain that outcomes are scientifically validated.
Public-private folks partnerships with establishments such because the Tea Smallholder Growth Authority, Coconut Cultivation Board and the Tea Analysis Institute (TRI) underpin its credibility. Past subject promotion, CIC additionally builds client consciousness via rice varietal branding whereas Fresheez shops join farm produce immediately with city shoppers.
The corporate is dedicated to uplifting and nurturing lives of farmers and communities via CSR programmes. Trendy academic assist for rural colleges within the type of sensible school rooms and studying English, along with
a well being focus each at group stage, hospital upgrades and protected consuming water via purification for colleges have enabled the corporate to strengthen group relations and reinforce model belief.
BRAND VALUES
CIC’s philosophy is rooted in its group goal of nurturing life. In agribusiness, this implies empowering farmers, enhancing productiveness and contributing to nationwide meals safety. The model stands for high quality, authenticity and transparency – values mirrored in merchandise that preserve uncompromised requirements.
Its stewardship mindset is obvious in accountable crop safety practices, world customary partnerships and sustainable fertiliser options. CIC’s tradition is anchored in public-private folks collaboration, fostering belief with establishments
and farming communities alike.
The corporate’s core ideas outline its identification: possession and accountability – taking duty for actions and outcomes; teamwork and belief – counting on collective energy; integrity and respect – upholding honesty, legality and mutual regard; entrepreneurial and modern – pushing boundaries and exploring new horizons; buyer focus and high quality – putting prospects first and making certain superior requirements; and a bias in the direction of motion and the profitable spirit – leaving no stone unturned in pursuing targets.
Innovation and accountability drive CIC’s operations, from information pushed agronomy and drone know-how to rigorous file conserving. Its group investments in rural training, well being and clear water replicate a perception that agricultural progress and social wellbeing should advance collectively. Via these values, CIC embodies science, ethics and compassion, serving to farmers, shoppers and the nation domesticate sustainable prosperity.
