Cargills Bank empowers rural dairy farmers in Mahaoya and Mahiyanganaya

In its pursuit to enhance the livelihoods of local dairy farmers, Cargills Bank recently carried out a major Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative in the regions of Mahaoya and Mahiyanganaya.

These areas were chosen as focal points for this initiative as they have long faced developmental challenges amidst low financial literacy and inadequate access to credit, along with below average productivity and limited access to affordable milk storage solutions. Supporting rural farmers, Cargills Bank donated and distributed over 65 milk collection cans and conducted an educational programme on financial literacy and livestock management, in addition to financial support worth Rs. 100 million to farmers in the area. The results of these investments are tangible, with milk production increasing by over 50% for many of theparticipants subsequent to the support extended by the bank. In addition to enhancing productivity, the milk cans distributed through the Cargills Group have improved milk preservation, helping to keep quality high as the milk makes its way to milk chilling centres operated by the Cargills Group

The main sessions took place at the Mahaweli Training Centre, where a financial literacy training session was conducted by Cargills Bank’s Agri and Micro Finance Department. This session provided farmers with vital knowledge on how to manage their finances effectively, track their income and expenditure, and better harness business opportunities. Furthermore, in collaboration with government veterinary officers, a specialised workshop on improving dairy farming practices was also held, led by Veterinary Surgeon, Dr Anuja Meesearachchi of Mahaoya. This holistic approach was followed to ensure that farmers were equipped with knowledge about financial management and sustainable farming methods.

This initiative also marked a special occasion for Cargills Bank, as it was launched to coincide with the celebration of the bank’s 10th anniversary.The programme not only highlighted the bank’s commitment to financialinclusion but also underscored its role in driving sustainable development across rural areas. This initiative is also in line with Sri Lanka’s national aspirations of achieving dairyself-sufficiency by improving productivity and uplifting dairy farmers.

Senarath Bandara, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cargills Bank explained, “We believe that progress is best achieved when everyone is empowered with the right tools and opportunities. Our CSR programme is a reflection of this belief, as we strive to uplift the lives of farmers in regionswhere financial support and inclusion has historically been scarce. With these knowledge-sharing sessions on financial literacy and farming techniques, together with financial and material support, we hope to contribute to the long-term success of these farmers and strengthen the overall rural agricultural economy. We also commend the commitment of our Kaduruwela Branch, whoregularly travelled significant distances to support these communities for their financial requirements.”

Cargills Bank’s commitment to supporting rural farmers is longstanding. Over the past few years, the bank has disbursed more than Rs. 3 billion in loans to over 8,000 farmers in rural areas. The bank’s lending portfolio to this segment recently surpassed Rs. 1 billion, and the agriculture business model of providing finance and market access through the Cargills Group has been commended by theCentral Bank of Sri Lanka for creating market opportunities and sustainable income to farmers, many of whom belong to underprivileged socioeconomic groups.

Source:Daily News