From the ‘Village to the global market’ is the sole aim of daring women entrepreneurs of Hambantota who had endured many struggles to be where they are today.
Fifteen passionate rural women entrepreneurs from Hambantota took the stage to present their community- focused, sustainable brands at the ‘Growth Gear: The Rural Livelihood Acceleration as Enterprises’ program by Good Market in collaboration with the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce and funded by GIZ in Colombo last week.
The three organisations have been equipping small businesses in Hambantota with the skills and support needed to refine their craft.
“I want to see my products in the hands of people beyond our shores one day,” is the dream of M.H. Shyamali, a manufacturer of natural products and owner of Ayura Natural Products in Hambantota.
Going global was the wish of every entrepreneur who shared their journey of ups and downs at the forum which recognised their talents and potential to reach their goals.
M. Lakshmi Udayangani, a manufacturer of Jak-based products in Hambantota, said she started from scratch and have come a long way earning around Rs. 80,000 a month which helps her keep the home fires burning.
She too echoed the same sentiments as others to reach the global market as an exporter one day.
Good intentions need to be backed by a pragmatic roadmap.
As no man is an island these enthusiastic entrepreneurs by themselves cannot achieve their drams. They need the support of others who could guide and direct them to reach the goal.
Many entrepreneurs said the absence of a stable market, exploitation of middlemen, adverse weather and the high cost of packaging which is essential to market their products have stood in the way to excel in their enterprises.
The need to eliminate middlemen, providing a stable market, product promotions, launching SME funding and training programs, minimising pre and post harvest loss have been spoken loud and wide but very few such initiatives have clear objectives and are sustained.
The current government introduced SME relief schemes through the banking system last week to help small and medium sector enterprises to get over outstanding loan repayments and continue their businesses.
Co-founder Good Market Achala Samaradiwakara said the 15 women entrepreneurs have come through the hard way and are very keen to achieve their dreams one day.
However, the road to excellence is not a bed of roses. From lack of financial literacy, access to funding, a proper visiting card to introduce one’s enterprise and promote the products to proper manufacturing, storage, packaging which grabs nearly 50 percent of the profit and transportation the need goes on for an effective national programe to support village based entrepreneurs whose skills, enthusiasm and determination would otherwise go a waste.
