Uchitha Bhashini Godahenage, originally from Sri Lanka, has been honoured with the Fruit Growers Tasmania Young Grower of the Year Award for her leadership and contributions to the berry industry.
Bhashi currently manages Costa’s blackberry farm in northwest Tasmania, overseeing around 40 hectares of production under polytunnel systems. With academic qualifications in agriculture from Sri Lanka and a Master’s degree from the University of Tasmania, she has steadily advanced her career, starting as a harvest lead and later becoming a horticulturalist before taking on the role of farm manager in June last year.
Her journey into agriculture was inspired by her family’s cinnamon farming background in Sri Lanka, which instilled in her a passion for cultivation and crop management. At Costa, Bhashi leads core farm operations including harvest, technical crop management, financial planning, and people leadership. She manages a leadership team and maintenance crew of 20–30, as well as up to 400 seasonal pickers during peak harvest.
She says her main focus is on teamwork and communication, highlighting the importance of collaborative problem-solving and good planning systems to manage challenges in farming. Bhashi also emphasises the role of technology and innovation in improving efficiency and fruit quality, while underscoring the need to develop skills within her workforce to adapt to these changes.
Reflecting on the award, Bhashi described the recognition as both humbling and an honour, crediting her success to the dedication and support of her team. She sees the award not only as personal recognition but also as a testament to the collective effort of those she leads.
