This time my destination is Kilinochchi district, which is located in between the A9 road from the northern peninsula to the city of Jaffna. Kilinochchi Kandasamy Temple, which is seen as an old temple for tourist attraction, not far from the main road, Murukandi Pillaiyar Temple, where anyone traveling on the A 9 road stops their car and gets blessings, is another meeting place in this travel series.
In this travel easily you could access in buying Kotta Kilingu(Boiled palmyrah)stem, as well as Veera, Palu, Dang like fruits. Also, the Poonagary Fort, natural beauty around Accrayan, Kilinochchi University and University Temple,Iranamadu Reservoir, commemorative buildings built for various wartime memorials and Hindu cultural food from “Ammachchi” can be easily experienced in this travel towards kilinochchi.
According to the guest’s review, it is rarer to see an organic farming in the north peninsula, which is very popular in the southern part of the country, because the tradition of farming in the dry region is slightly different compared to the farming in the wet region. Thus, as a step to popularize organic farming in the north, “Reecha Organic Farm “ is starting in Kilinochchi, taking one more step forward in agriculture by Mr. Baskaran Kandiya, native of Jaffna, who is considered the Sri Lankan representation in the ownership of many companies and businesses with national and international names, adds a pioneering contribution to this.
He is a Sri Lankan businessman who is the co-founder and director of a European telecommunication company called “Lebara Group”, that provides services in UK, France, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and Australia. He is also the Chairman of London Tamil Media, a subsidiary of IBC Tamil Holding Company, a popular London-based Tamil television channel. Currently they have established their own TV and radio channels in Jaffna which is very popular among Sri Lankan Tamils. He also owns the Netherlands registered Dick Holdings B.V. and recently bought the websites Tamilwin, Lankasree, Cine Ulagam, Manitham and is a fair share of the Tamil media empire.
As a person who born in a humble Tamil family background, he spent his childhood in Jaffna and later he moved to Netherlands and established himself as a successful entrepreneur within few years showing his outstanding dedication. IBC Tamil TV, which emerged later due to his special interest in the Tamil language and its literature, has now pursued all the limits of media and has brought news, entertainment programs, current politics, to the people of the Northern Province as well as the Tamil, Muslim community in the East, West and Central mountains.
The core of his farm concept was based on the long-term desire that by implementing various businesses, we are forever well rooted with nature and fight for those who want to live without adequate livelihood in today’s situation and build a community for them to live in and create jobs that generate permanent income.
And the consensus of these ideas is to transform 150 acres of natural land into recreational areas and arable land to improve the livelihood of the integrated community, develop our knowledge of agriculture and nature, and cater to the needs of future generations. It was also a very pleasant place for tourists to take their rest. It was a matter of great satisfaction to Mr. Baskaran that many of the victims of the civil war were transformed into beneficiaries and laborers in the growth and rise of this farm.
Actually ReeCha Organic Farm is primarily an organic working farm, a collection of micro-businesses that all share a common goal. A wonderful concept that started in June 2018 as a large-scale animal husbandry and organic vegetable cultivation in a 150-acre coconut plantation in Kilinochchi Aiyakacchi area.A small floating perennial plant called azolla is used to control the feed cost of livestock and increase their growth and productivity on the Reecha farm. It is rich in protein.
It is used to feed goats, cows, chickens, pigs, rabbits and other domestic animals like fish. With this new experience from this place on the farm, you can also get the best benefits from feeding your livestock and they convince organic farming enthusiasts. In particular, they invite you to see how the farm works in a way that contributes to a healthy lifestyle integrated with the environment. The 150 acre farm is home to not only crops but also cattle, chickens as livestock and space to purchase meat and eggs through the “Recha Forest Island Cafe” and produce store. As you browse through their website, you will see lush green grounds with fields of flower gardens.
And also it offers on-site workshops for adults and children in their scenic spaces such as the Forest Islands, Cafe Restaurant, and Children’s Garden etc. They hope to be inspired to make even the smallest change for a healthier, more harmonious existence with their productive land, animals and plants
By Ishi Basnayake & Sharmila Vinothini
