CTC holds its SADP Annual Fair to celebrate a decade of rural empowerment

From left: South Asia Area BAT Area Director Syed Javed Iqbal, Chairman Susantha Ratnayake CTC and CTC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Michael Koest ceremoniously opening the annual SADP Pola 

A display of produce by the beneficiaries of the SADP programme at the SADP Pola

The senior management of CTC shops for produce at the SADP Pola

This year marks a decade of rural empowerment for Ceylon Tobacco Company’s (CTC) flagship CSR initiative, Sustainable Agriculture Development Programme (SADP). 

In celebration of this milestone, the annual SADP Pola was declared open in a grand manner by South Asia Area BAT Area Director Syed Javed Iqbal and CTC Chairman Susantha Ratnayake at an event held recently at the CTC Head Office in Colombo. The event was also attended byCTC’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Michael Koest as well as other Directors and employees of CTC. 

The SADP Pola, which showcases produce grown by beneficiary families of the SADP project, is an opportunity for all CTC employees to engage with farmers and purchase organic produce cultivated throughout the country. 

“SADP has played a crucial part in the empowerment of underprivileged families across the island. Over the last 10 years, CTC has been a driving force behind poverty alleviation at rural level, by enabling thousands of families to achieve a sustainable means of living through SADP. This fair provides an opportunity for farmers tosell their produce at the CTC head office, while also giving our employees the opportunity to contribute to this programme,” commented Koest.

CTC’s highly-acclaimed SADP, has for over a decade, been a boon to the lives of families living below the poverty line, reaching over 18,000 families and 71,000 beneficiaries, in 16 districts across the island. Themed “Helping those who are willing to help themselves”, what the SADP beneficiaries all have in common is the belief in their ability to rise above poverty and create sustainable livelihoods for themselves. 

A key feature of SADP is that the environment and ecology are always protected, and organic cultivation is encouraged. The use of compost and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systemsdiscourages the use of chemical fertiliser and pesticides.

SADP supported Sri Lanka’s efforts at achieving the Millennium Development Goal No. 1 – Alleviate Poverty. It has also continuously supported the Government’s efforts in eliminating poverty in Sri Lanka while promoting organic agriculture.Its immense success through 10 years has hailed SADP as one of the most comprehensive and effective sustainable livelihood development programmes in the world today. 

It has also beenglobally recognised in the category of Social Empowerment at the Asia Responsible Entrepreneurship Awards for 2015 and 2016 held in Macau and Singapore respectivelywhile also securing the ‘Best Environmental Value Addition Project’ at the Best Corporate Citizen’s Awards in Sri Lanka organised by the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in 2013.  

Due to the many merits of this programme, CTC will continue to support the initiative in the future and hopes it will further enrich thousands of more lives in Sri Lanka.