HNB starts agripreneurship development in Nochchiyagama

HNB PLC celebrated a step forward in the nation’s agricultural development with the launch of the HNB Sarusara programme in Nochchiyama, Anuradhapura recently.  
Attended by over 700 agripreneurs, the pioneering event established a platform for demonstrating smart and precise agricultural techniques and solutions capable of enhancing farming practices, increasing productivity and improving livelihoods leveraging modern technology.
The event also featured a mini agriculture exhibition with over 20 leading agribusiness solution providers from across the country, offering comprehensive seed-to-shelf solutions that greatly benefited the participants. This initiative is the first of several planned interactions with the 16,000-strong farming community in Nochchiyagama, aiming to provide agripreneurship solutions through HNB’s innovative agribusiness drive. 

The event was attended by HNB Acting CEO, Damith Pallewatte, HNB Head of Microfinance Mahinda Senevirathne, HNB Head of SME Products and Partnerships N. Keethiswaran, Regional Business Head (North-Central Region) Nirosh Edirisinghe, Regional Microfinance Manager (North-Central Region) Hiran Karunarathne, accompanied by the team at Nochchiyagama led by Manager Nuwan Chandrasekara. Several other branch teams and leadership from across the HNB’s NCR customer centres were also in attendance for the landmark event. 
“HNB was one of the first banks to establish a presence in Nochchiyama, so we have a special connection with this community. For the last 45 years, we have sought to support them and their agripreneurs, to build thriving, sustainable businesses by raising awareness and building capacity for agri-modernisation and supporting the adoption of fuses technologies at the grassroots through such events.”
“In this manner we hope to drive a powerful revitalization of the entire national agricultural sector, and the broader economy. We express our sincere gratitude to our HNB agripreneurs for engaging in this vital effort, and to our teams on the ground who continue to show outstanding dedication to our continuing efforts to act as a partner in progress to all Sri Lankans,” Damith Pallewatte said.  
“Furthermore, our HNB Sarusaraprogramme aims to transform the agricultural sector by integrating cutting-edge practices, advanced financing solutions, and state-of-the-art technology. Our mission is to equip agripreneurs with the knowledge and resources for smart agriculture, boosting both productivity and sustainability,” Damith Pallewatte explained. 
Through the HNB Sarusara programme, the bank aims to support 30,000 agripreneurs nationwide to modernize their businesses, and improve their productivity over the coming year. Together with its flagship HNB Gami Pubuduwa initiative – which provides a platform for agripreneurs to gain access to local and global markets, the Bank is set to cultivate a new wave of entrepreneurship, fostering growth, development and a more prosperous future for Sri Lanka’s rural and agrarian communities.