Spice Trails Hotel, Arugambay is a boutique hotel catering to luxury eco-tourists visiting the east of Sri Lanka. The hotel owns 3.5 acres of land in Komari, now being developed as a permaculture farm under the agriculture consultancy provided by ABBA Agri Consultancy. The project’s overall purpose is to develop a sustainable farm and community according o permaculture principles while creating a realistic and eco-friendly usiness model.
The original land was a sand dune, and AAC had to work over several years to bring life to the area, from initially changing the soil composition, lanting green manure crops and then moving to fruits and vegetables. The project has so far:
- Provided more than 50 types of farm-grown fruits and vegetables grown under organic farming practices to supply the hotel, creating a farm to table concept and supporting the hotel towards its aim of being more self-sustainable.
- created employment opportunities to villagers in the nearby area; already recruited a farm manager and agricultural student intern.
- introduced the first phase of a ‘farm living experience’ for foreign tourists, with several visitors already volunteering and working on the farm.
- reduced economic risk (especially during the COVID-19 period) and allowed the business to diversify its income streams.
