Development Bank donates to agricultural training centre |28 August 2014

The Development Bank of Seychelles (DBS) has made a donation of multimedia equipment to the Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Centre (SAHTC).

Worth R50,000, the batch of equipment was presented to the centre’s director Georgie Belmont by the DBS chief executive Annie Vidot, on its premises at Anse à la Mouche yesterday afternoon.

The short ceremony was held in the presence of members of staff from the two institutions as well as students.

Explaining the decision to donate to the SAHTC, Ms Vidot said that when DBS started its operations its first clients were farmers and fishermen.

She added that 36 years later today, the Development Bank is still contributing to those two very important sectors of the economy which are agriculture and fisheries.

She noted that in spite having financed over 900 agricultural and horticultural projects at a cost of over R100 million, there has been a decline in the sector which she feels has been facing difficulties and has been surpassed by other economic activities.

In this view she concluded that as part of its corporate responsibility, her organisation has decided to work with the SAHTC and the young generation, to help bring about the “revolution” the sector needs in order to take off again.

“Food concerns everybody. Therefore, helping the sector to get back on its feet should be the concern of everybody in this country and I believe we can all lend a hand in our own different ways. Small contributions do add up to make big differences. […] We hope that what we are giving today will make that difference in teaching and learning. What we sow today, we will reap tomorrow. We look forward to see, in a couple of years or so, some serious, dynamic and knowledgeable entrepreneurs coming to the DBS with some exciting agriculture and horticulture projects,” Ms Vidot said.

On his part, Mr Belmont thanked DBS for the kind gesture.

He added that the SAHTC feels fortunate and is very grateful for having been chosen for the donation which will improve teaching at the centre.

He has assured the DBS management that his staff and students will make good use of the equipment.