AgStar partners Israel’s NetaFim to offer irrigation solutions to local farmers

From left: Agstar  General Manager  Danushka De Zoysa,  Agstar PLC  Managing Director  Prasad Weeraseakara,  Agstar PLC  Chairman  Indika Gunawardena,  NetaFim  India Head-Business Development ( SAARC Nations) Amit Maheshwari, NetaFim India  SBU Head-Central  and  North India  Krishanthan Mahamulkar, NetaFim India  Export Manager  Shyam Bommana, and NetaFim India Agronomist  Sabarinathan showcasing the new FlexNet pipe 
Pic by Pradeep Dilruckshana

AgStar PLC, an entity that operates in the fertilizer manufacturing sector, inked an agreement with NetaFim, an Israeli-based global leader in irrigation solutions for sustainable agriculture, yesterday to help local farmers uplift
farming practices.
The newly inked AgStar tie-up with NetaFim is a strategic partnership geared to benefit crop cultivators, smallholder farmers, commercial growers, and
regional plantations.
As a member of the LOLC group, the NetaFim-AgStar collaboration is backed by a good local standing, with many years of agri-input marketing experience, a strong dealer network, technology-oriented staff, and localized bases of
farmer-grower communities.
NetaFim, also a part of Orbia, a business community tackling complex challenges such as reducing world hunger, customizes irrigation equipment for drippers, dripper-lines, sprinklers, and micro-emitters to help grow more with less.

Acknowledging that AgStar, being one of the largest agri-input companies in the country, has a deep understanding of the needs of local farmers, NetaFim expressed confidence in the partnership’s ability to leverage strengths to deliver micro-irrigation solutions to small and marginal farmers.
“Our partnership with AgStar will ensure that small and marginal farmers in Sri Lanka can grow more food with fewer agri inputs, less water, and less fertilizer. This will eventually improve farmer productivity and income, along with ensuring high food security for the country,” said NetaFim Head of Business Development for SAARC Nations, Amit Maheshwari, at the signing event held in Colombo yesterday.
Reflecting similar sentiments, AgStar Executive Chairman Indika Gunawardena pointed out that NetaFim has strategically invested in agronomy and training capabilities, setting it apart from
other manufacturers.
“The introduction of NetaFim irrigation technology solutions will save growers money, time, and labor, which are usually overspent on irrigating large tracts of cultivable land,” he said.

Over the past two decades, NetaFim has successfully expanded its product portfolio to suit small and marginal farmers. With more than 100 patents for its irrigation products, including the FLEXNET, NetaFim ensures the right quality and affordability
for the farmer.
Meanwhile, AgStar has an intrinsic understanding of farmer needs, agri-input requirements, and how bottlenecks impede progress on a day-to-day basis.