Brown & Company signs MoU with FMTC
Brown & Company PLC is a well-respected conglomerate in Sri Lanka
boasting a rich history of over 135 years as a leading business entity.
Moreover the company's association with the Sri Lankan Agriculture
sector spans more than half a century. Having begun with the import of
the first Massey Ferguson tractor to Sri Lanka, Browns Agriculture SBU
is currently the sole distributor of TAFE. Browns took a step towards
widening its horizons for contributing the local agriculture by signing
a MoU with Farm Mechanization Training Centre (FMTC), Anuradhapura
governed by the Department of Agriculture.
In collaboration with FMTC the MoU is intended to facilitate
providing technical knowledge and training to the local farming
community to use four-wheel tractors efficiently in their day to day
farming operations.
Browns went in to agriculture business after 20 years of its
existence by establishing the Agriculture Division in 1892. The first
step towards agro mechanization in Sri Lanka was taken when Browns
brought down the first tractor, "Fergie" from Massey Ferguson taking the
entire farming concept to a different level. Since then Browns has
become a household name as a provider of best quality farming solutions
to the customers; thus empowering the Sri Lankan farmers to work towards
increased farm productivity, prosperity and profits. Today, Browns
boasts of spearheading the agriculture sector in Sri Lanka. Anuradhapura
Farm Mechanization Training Centre was established in 1971 under an
agreement made between Sri Lanka and Germany. It is the only centre in
Sri Lanka which is equipped with physical and human resources needed for
agro mechanization.
As a result of the MoU signed between Browns and FMTC, the farmers,
mechanics, university students, agri students and others who are
involved in agricultural activities will be benefited. The first
workshop of the series was held from May 8th to 10th 2013 at FMTC
Anuradhapura.
"It is a great opportunity for Browns to get involved in elevating
the local agriculture in to the next level.
As the pioneers in agriculture mechanization of Sri Lanka, with this
programme we are planning to educate farmers on operating
agro-appliances which will consequently help them to improve their
productivity and prosperity. We consider this as the beginning of a long
lasting relationship with the department of Agriculture in contributing
for the betterment of Sri Lankan farmer Community and yet another
remarkable step by Browns to enhance Sri Lankan Agriculture Industry."
says Murali Prakash, CEO/Group Managing Director of Browns Group.
Speaking more about the MoU, Director General of the Department of
Agriculture K. G. Sriyapala says "There has been a rewarding
relationship between Browns and the Agriculture Department for a long
time which enabled to implement this MoU. It is a pleasure to be able to
facilitate our farming community with a procedure that would make them
more successful and productive. Both Browns and FMTC will take every
measure to impart valuable practical and theoretical knowledge in
educating the farmers."
"For the first time in Sri Lanka that a technical training of this
kind is being offered by a conglomerate in private sector with the
collaboration of Department of Agriculture. It is a great pleasure to
have this opportunity to share knowledge on agriculture mechanization
and contribute towards uplifting the Sri Lankan Agriculture Industry. I
believe this partnership stands as a symbol of national unity through
diversity. As a company which has been in the hearts and minds of the
Sri Lankans for hundreds of years, we are happy to be a strength to our
farmers through this relationship" says Panduka Weerasinghe, Senior Vice
President, Agriculture/Battery/Porcelain and New Business of Browns
group.
This programme which includes theoretical and practical knowledge for
the farmers will further strengthen the bond between the farming
community with Browns.
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