Rãgã elevates Lankan kithul industry

Thursday, 16 December 2021 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Delivering the tropical goodness to the rāgā factory

An unopened kithul flower, which is used for sap tapping

A bunch of mature kithul fruit

Agri Deshiya Factory located at Nalanda Ellawala Industrial Zone, Ratnapura

rãgã, an innovative line of organic, kithul-based products was launched by Agri Deshiya Ltd., a local company committed to elevate Sri Lanka through value-added agricultural products of Sri Lankan origin to international fame.

The official launch took place on 14 December at the opening of the Agri Deshiya factory, which was inaugurated by Minister of Industries Wimal Weerawansa in the presence of Minister of Coconut, Kithul and Palmyrah Cultivation Promotion Arundika Fernando and the Agri Deshiya management.

The new facility located at the Nalanda Ellawala Industrial Zone, Ratnapura is equipped with state-of-the-art brewing and canning technologies, enabling rãgã products to revolutionize one of Sri Lanka’s most beloved yet, severely under-utilised foods: Kithul.

“We are extremely proud of the fact that, through rãgã, we have not just reimagined the potential of our island nation’s underappreciated agro-resources such as Kithul, but we have also paved the way for the traditional, village level Kithul tapping trade to become an internationally recognised industry. As an organisation that is built on the principles of people care, earth care and fair share, we have considered all aspects of the value chain including the improvement of financial benefits for rural communities to enhance their way of life, and thereby benefitting Sri Lanka as a whole,” said Agri Deshiya Chairman Prabath De Alwis.

Driven by local innovation, sustainability and ethical production, all rãgã products are 100% natural, with no added preservatives. The technology partner, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) has played a critical role in providing pioneering and unique technologies that have been incorporated at each step of the production process. These advanced mechanisms, including the first ever Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) solution for the collection of Kithul sap in Sri Lanka, has been put in place to ensure premium quality in every product.

The entire factory is also backed by internationally recognised standards such as ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management System, GMP and HACCP, in addition to the continuous quality testing conducted in-house. To find out more about rãgã and its revolutionary products, please visit www.ragaceylon.lk.

Bringing the best of nature to Sri Lanka and the world, Agri Deshiya Ltd., founded in 2019, utilises ethical methods in technological agriculture to enhance the industry within the agro-based economy. Through new technologies and care for people and the earth, the Company aims to enhance the country’s economy and develop an agriculturally sustainable future, through the unique raw materials found in the rich soil of the island. The company operates with a desire to elevate Sri Lanka to its highest level of productivity through sustainable utilisation of its natural resources, while providing benefits for all parties involved in the unique and innovative production process.

Inside one of the rāgā production labs with pioneering and unique technologies

The entire factory is in compliance with ISO 22000 – Food Safety Management System, GMP and HACCP

The rāgā production using state-of-the-art manufacturing technology

Slicing the kithul flower for continuous sap secretion