Farmers in Sri Lanka’s North Central Province received firsthand exposure to the applications of drone technology in modernizing agricultural practices, thanks to an awareness program organized by the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC in collaboration with the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka. Over 100 farmers in the Thambuttegama area of the Anuradhapura District, along with students, were briefed by experts on how drones can revolutionize seeding paddy lands, applying fertilizers and agrochemicals, and mitigating labor shortages in farming. Representatives from the Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka and Aerogenii Drone Services provided invaluable knowledge and live demonstrations, with support from officials of the Bank’s Development Credit Department, which spearheaded the program.
Commenting on the initiative, Commercial Bank Deputy General Manager Personal Banking Delakshan Hettiarachchi emphasized the need for Sri Lanka’s agriculture sector to embrace modern technological advancements. He underscored the bank’s commitment to investing resources and expertise to facilitate this transition, given its significant role as a major lender to the agriculture sector. The program’s objective is to promote the adoption of modern technology in paddy farming and other cultivation activities, highlighting the cost-effectiveness and time-saving benefits of drones compared to manual labor, while also addressing labor shortages in agriculture.
The bank plans to extend similar awareness sessions to other agricultural regions of the country under its Agri Modernisation Programme. These initiatives are bolstered by the bank’s 19 Agriculture & Micro Finance Units (AMFU), strategically positioned across Sri Lanka. These units play a pivotal role in identifying the specific needs of entrepreneurs in agriculture and micro-businesses, furthering the bank’s commitment to promoting agriculture lending and microfinance in the country.