Our farmers are spread across the Uva, Central & Eastern provinces of Sri Lanka. We work with them to promote organic cultivation while preserving and revitalizing indigenous and original varieties of spice crops, as well as to process and market authentic and premium quality organic spices.
Ecowave provides know how to implement Internal Control System (ICS) and to maintain standards and organic certification. We further support them in shortening the producer-to-consumer chain through a scrupulous quality control system from farm gate to our Processing Factory.
Our farmers are very respectful to their land and to what they grow, and open to the use of new techniques and technologies that help improve their entire cultivation system, with the hope of leaving a better natural heritage to future generations.
They are organized in a group which we support to become a strong and leading Fair Trade Certified Producers’ Association.
Wasantha is a lady from the Attala Village of Badalkumbura in the Monaragala District. She currently owns 1.5 -Acres of land and grows Pepper, Ginger, Turmeric and a few other Perennial Crops. Wasantha had been struggling with declining yields in past years and price drop of Black Pepper.
She joined the Organic Farming Program of Ecowave in 2015 when she committed to convert her farm to organic. She fulfilled her dream when she received organic certification in 2019. Through the training and technical supports on organic farming given by Ecowave she learned about the importance of regular pruning, maintenance, mulching, and compost making. She has started to produce high quality White Pepper with equipment and training received from Ecowave. She has also diversified her portfolio by intercropping Ginger and Turmeric.
Wasantha is currently gaining considerable income from her Black Pepper and White Pepper. She is also following the organic Vanilla expansion program of Ecowave. According to Wasantha, one day, her daughter’s husband will be taking over her farm, but until then she plans to increase her spice production with the support of Ecowave.
Dayananda is a man from Kalagahakiula village in Moneragala District, always seen wearing a cowboy hat. He owns a 3.5 -Acre plantation of Pepper which contributes to most of his family's income. He has joined the organic program of Ecowave and his farm is certified organic. He produces high quality Black Pepper and White Pepper which he hopes to sell at a premium price. He also grows Ginger and Turmeric as advised by Ecowave. Even at the age of 63, Dayananda is still planning for future projects. With support from Ecowave, he would like to invest in better equipment to improve the quality of his White Pepper. He has a deep interest in farming because his ancestors used to be farmers as well.
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Premalatha is a lady from Heeloya village in the Kandy District. Heeloya Village was an unknown tourism village that was promoted by Ecowave Travels as a popular community-based tourism attraction. Premalatha's farm can be reached either by foot or by a 10-minute bumpy tuk-tuk ride from the entrance to the village. The scenery is beautiful, green and lush, and so is her farm. Premalatha and her husband grow an amazing variety of crops on only half an acre of land she got from the Government after fleeing the conflict from the East part of the country. Economically most important for her are the Spices. She produces Black Pepper, Vanilla, Chili Pepper, Cloves and Nutmeg. They also have Avocado, Cocoa, Coffee, Grapes, Guava, Mango, Pineapple and even Strawberries on their property. She is learning more about vanilla harvesting and post-harvest handling. She takes part in village tourism activities too and hosts tourists for meals, culinary and farming experiences when they visit the village. She also likes to share her knowledge with others. She has contributed a lot in the organic Vanilla expansion program of Ecowave in the village. Her Vanilla cultivation is a demonstration plot for other farmers to learn from. She has joined the Ecowave Organic Farming Program and her farm is currently in conversion to organic.
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Ganeshan is a man from Urani Village in the Southern part of the Ampara District, close to Arugambay, Pottuvil. Since its inception, Ecowave has been working with this war affected and very poor community, to support income generation through farming and community-based tourism. Ganeshan is an energetic farmer and his main source of income is agriculture. According to him he is very concerned about the use of synthetic agro chemicals in farming. He is very much against feeding poison to humanity. He has been with Ecowave since 2012. As a member of organic producer society in the village, he gained knowledge and vast experiences on organic agriculture, agronomic practices and organic pest and disease control measures through Ecowave’s training programs. Ganeshan’s hard work and dedication has inspired farmers in the community to practice organic farming. He grows Ginger, Turmeric, Chili Pepper and many vegetables. He gains a good income through farming and his farm is in conversion to organic.
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