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Some of the participants at the seminar
The Commercial Bank hosted a workshop on productivity improvement in medium and large scale coconut estates in the Kurunegala District with the participation of more than 75 people in Kurunegala.
Organised by the bank’s Kurunegala Branch and Development Credit Department with technical assistance of the Coconut Cultivation Board and Department of Animal Production & Health – Wayamba, the program was intended to enhance the knowledge of estate owners on coconut estate rehabilitation, the introduction of inter crops and promoting livestock (dairy farming) in coconut estates to increase productivity by maximum use of the space available between trees.
The main objective of the program was to create awareness of the available opportunitiesfor and underutilised resources in the area. It reasoned that increased profitability could provide a solution to coconut estate fragmentation which happens due to low productivity ofcoconut estates.
The bank has been conducting similar programmes in the past targeting main economic activities carried out by the people in different areas of the country. This program targeted coconut cultivators who pay a vital role in Sri Lanka’s Agriculture sector by creating employment, supplying raw materials to coconut based industries andearning foreign exchange for the country.
Resource persons for the workshop included P.C. Obeysiry of the Department of Animal Production & Health – Wayamba and Messrs P.S. Senevirathne and H.M.M.J. Herath and I.M.N. Ilankoon of the Coconut Cultivation Board.
An open forum held at the conclusion of the program provided participants an opportunity to seek clarification from the resource personnel. Representatives of the bank provided participants with information on the ‘Kapruka Ayojana’ loan scheme, the Commercial Dairy Development Loan Scheme and other products and services offered by its Development Credit Department.
