Cargills conducts capacity building training programme for Lak Bojun female entrepreneurs

Cargills in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture’s ‘Hela Bojun’ programme is empowering women entrepreneurs through the ‘Cargills Lak Bojun’ initiative. This programme aims to create sustainable incomes for women entrepreneurs by providing a marketplace to sell healthy and nutritious food items. 

Since its inception in May 2022 with two female SMEs, the program has now expanded to include 8 Lak Bojun carts, supporting a total of 15 SMEs. Through the Lak Bojun programme, SMEs are provided carts, aprons, hats, and access to Cargills FoodCity premises to set up their carts, free-of-charge.

 The project focuses on locally sourced, authentic food items with high nutritional value, including ‘Kola Kanda’ and ready-to-eat foods made from root crops and grains and a variety of healthy choices. Operating on weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., with some carts expanding to include lunch and dinner options, Lak Bojun provides an affordable way for customers to enjoy these nutritious meals. Sustainable packaging options like paper cups, banana leaves, kanda leaves, and bio-compostable wraps are encouraged.

On May 17, Cargills organized the second SME training program at Hela Bojun premises in Battaramulla. Thanuja Jeewandara, District Agriculture Instructor from the Ministry of Agriculture, covered essential topics such as food quality maintenance, cart cleanliness, hygienic practices, and building strong customer relationships. The Cargills team also shared valuable insights with the SMEs, covering topics such as the importance of saving and finance management. 

Moreover, the Cargills team conducts a weekly audit on all participants of the Lak Bojun program to ensure they are constantly providing good quality food, aligned with the guidelines of Hela Bojun. Dr. Nelum Vithana, Group Manager of Food Safety and Nutrition at Cargills, along with Yamuna Kumari, Shanki Hashini, and Thilini Hansika, organized the training program and shared their inputs and expertise with the SMEs.

During the training programme, SMEs were also provided with assistance to open bank accounts, with a view to creating a savings culture. An official from Cargills Bank joined the program to provide support and guidance on financial matters.
Cargills bears all costs related to the project while all income generated through the Lak Bojun programme goes directly to the women entrepreneurs, ensuring that they benefit from their hard work. Through this program, Cargills aims to empower local women entrepreneurs while also contributing to the well-being of the community.