Those who sow, deserve the soil too

4 Mins Read

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Let’s pause in time: a farm in northern Sri Lanka, dawn breaking over a patch of wild turmeric. A farmer, Sarala, kneels beside a row of seedlings, her gentleness shaped by generations who tended to land before machines arrived. 

At Roswods, we began with that truth. Farmers like Sarala taught us that farming isn’t just work, it’s stewardship. That’s why our first promise is simple but radical: Farmers come first. Always.
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It’s easy to forget the backbone of global food systems: smallholder farmers. Despite misconceptions, studies confirm they produce almost one-third of the world’s food and they do it on a quarter of global farmland. In Sri Lanka and Australia alike, small growers sustain not just yield, but community, biodiversity, and culture.

Our value is in grounding every spice we source in this commitment. We pay fairly, stay in partnership season after season, and centre farmers in everything we do, as co-creators.

Recent global research shows that supporting smallholders builds efficiency with empathy. In Kenya, programmes like One Acre Fund have boosted farmer profits by over 30%, demonstrating how meaningful support improves lives and yields.

Closer to home, when Sri Lankan farmers practice agroforestry or soil-restoring techniques, their food system becomes stronger. That means healthier crops, preserved seed varieties, land that gives back. That’s the type of support we celebrate. Not aspirational claims, but grounded, field-tested results.

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An integral part of our five pillars, putting the farmer first means a myriad of things; 

•    Fair pay no matter season or quantity.
•    Long term relationships are prioritised over one off transactions.

Because when the farmer thrives, quality follows. Trust follows. Taste follows.

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We don’t just honour farmer lives. We honour their wisdom, recipes passed by hand, seed varieties that survive in memory, not labs. That’s cultural integrity. By buying directly, by carrying their name on our pouches, we keep tradition alive.

Thirty-five per cent of the world’s food supply comes from small farms of under two hectares. This means that when their ability to produce food is at risk, so too is the global food system. 

And yet, small-scale farmers receive just 0.8 per cent of global climate finance each year – a meagre US$5.53 billion – to adapt to this new climate reality. At Roswods, our investment is our action. Farmer relationships, regenerative sourcing, transparent stories, and spices you can trust.

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When you choose Roswods, you’re not just seasoning a dish. You’re investing in a food system where farmers thrive and culture lives on. 
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