NDB promotes cinnamon cultivation in Matara

The NDB recently set the foundation for a 'grow cinnamon' campaign by promoting microfinance facilities to home growers.

This program was launched in Matara recently, with the disbursement of Divi Aruna microfinance facilities to over eighty selected growers in the area. The micro loan facilities funded under concessionary rates will encourage small scale growers to remain in the industry.

I.K. Ruwansiri of the Cinnamon Research Institute of Sri Lanka, spoke on the technical aspects of effective and efficient methods of cinnamon cultivation for the benefit of small scale growers.

Promoting livelihood development at grassroot level through sustainable financial inclusion has always been a focal area for NDB.

In continuance of its objectives for financial inclusion, the revolutionary loan scheme Divi Aruna (awakening of lives) commenced in 2010, aimed at developing livelihood for prospective entrepreneurs not within the mainstream of banking.

The philosophy for introducing this scheme underlies the thinking that in the envisaged economic resurgence, marginalised people in the rural sector may lose out, if not given a helping hand at the inception.