Sri Lanka - An Essential Oil Economic Development Project
One of our initiatives is the Barefoot Economy Essential Oil Economic Development project. The project is agronomy based and will assist the rural poor in Sri Lanka to cultivate organically grown aromatic plants on small plots of land. These low value starting materials will be processed to produce high value essential oils for sale and distribution to the international fragrance and cosmetic industries.
The high market value for these essential oils can provide livelihoods for people with small plots of land, particularly those affected by the recent tsunami devastation and people affected by the past civil conflict.
More than 1,000 people will benefit from the project in the first three years of operation. Growers will receive seeds, plant cuttings and training in organic agriculture in order to plant and cultivate aromatic plants such as jasmine, palmarosa and ginger. Growers will receive a premium price for their high quality raw material providing significant improvements to rural poor household incomes.
The project will establish a small scale locally owned and managed essential oil distillation plant in rural Sri Lanka which will process the organically grown aromatic plant starting material into high quality added value essential oils.
Profits generated from this community venture will be reinvested into other social projects as determined by the communities to meet their long term social needs.
The purpose of the project is to provide economic independence, equal opportunity and self-determination to the poorest of the poor in rural Sri Lanka through the development of an agronomy based environmentally sustainable business which will ensure a large number of people gain sustainable livelihoods and the opportunity for knowledge, growth and a better quality of life.
The secondary purpose of the project is to expand and develop a model for creating sustainable ethical international businesses which focus on improving society rather than maximising profits.
