The NDB Home Agri Competition got under way with 33 participants from the Bank’s head office and branches. The competition was launched with the presentation of a mango sapling to all competitors and a set of seed packs containing a variety of vegetable seeds.
The lockdown situation in the island motivated and led many Sri Lankans to start growing their own fresh fruits and vegetables. Even urban Sri Lankans with limited space took up home gardening. The ‘new normal’ situation and the concerns for safety when procuring essentials, caused many to embrace self-sustainability during the crisis.
National Development Bank PLC (NDB) makes every effort to empower our own employees to live a sustainable life. The ‘NDB Home Agri’ Project which commenced with the lockdown, culminated recently with the ‘NDB Home Agri Competition’. Over 30 employees from the head office and branches were selected for the competition on a first come first serve basis.
A variety of seeds (vegetables and fruits) and a mango plant were given to each competitor. The rules are simple; start growing, record your progress, be creative and make use of the learning’s and tips shared in the NDB Home Agri Videos, and the three best ‘Home Agri Projects’ will win valuable agri-related prizes.
The NDB Home Agri videos covered key topics such as, benefits of home gardening, soil preparation, gardening in a small space, creative use of discarded items as plant pots, organic fertiliser, natural pesticides, natural pots, and easy to grow vegetables, fruits and flowers.
Five videos were shared over a period, internally as well as on social media, and the enthusiasm among the staff led to the launch of the competition.