The market linkage development workshop for pepper producers spreading over Southern region was conducted on 06 December 2018 at Solis Hotel Matara with the participation of representatives of 04 farmer organizations, 14 primary producers, 06 input suppliers, 04 collectors, 05 regional level exporters, 11 primary societies, 02 representatives from SDB and 08 representatives from 4 government institutes namely Department of Export Agriculture, Industrial Development Board, Export development board, and Small Enterprise development division of Ministry of youth affaires. There the exporters have indicated the quality requirements they are looking for and the price premium they could offered for the quality pepper. The MOPA, an organic pepper producer association, has agreed to link the organic producers with their association and to purchase from them with a premium price. The primary producers have created linkages with the machinery producers, specially who produce pepper dryers during this meeting.
The participants have agreed to have quarterly meetings to evaluate the progress of the actions they have agreed during the workshop.
The market linkage development workshops facilitate trade relationships between primary producers, local firms, producer associations, service providers, and with the external market. The SANASA Trusts companies lead this initiative of connecting buyers to producers and vice versa, and at the moment it is a free service to the value chain actors for the benefit of the local entrepreneurial communities.
