Lankaputhra Development Bank launches stage II of ‘Govi Navodaya Loan Scheme’

The ‘Govi Navodaya Loan Scheme’ was launched on 5 August 2011 to enable farmers of the Nuwara Eliya District to purchase hand tractors/powered tiller machines to plough their fields as a solution for labour shortage.

The scheme was launched under the patronage of the Kandy branch of Lankaputhra Development Bank jointly with the Nuwara Eliya District Chamber of Commerce together with the assistance of the Agricultural Co-operative Society of Sri Lanka with the aim of creating sustainable agricultural development.

Financial assistance at concessionary terms of interest was provided to farmers under the scheme. The progress achieved by the farmers is being constantly observed and monitored by LDB Kandy Branch and Nuwara Eliya District Chamber of Commerce.

A Memorandum of Understanding in this regard was signed on 28 September 2012 at the Nuwara Eliya District Chamber of Commerce office. It was signed between the Lankaputhra Development Bank and the Nuwara Eliya District Chamber of Commerce.

With the implementation of the second stage of the scheme with extended facilities, farmers will be able to purchase machinery such as two wheel tractors, power tillers, power sprayers, milking machines, water pumps, seedling machines and electronic scales, etc.

A tractor was presented to the 100th farmer under the first stage of the scheme at the occasion. The Saradha Lanka Organisation has made arrangements to conduct a day long free in-house service camp on the use of hand tractors for the benefit of the farmers.