The Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank Limited (PPCBL) has so far provided Rs 700 million loans to small farmers of the province for sowing of Rabi crop 2004-2005. These loans have been disbursed to 35,000 members of 4,000 registered co-operative societies functioning in the province. According to PPCBL General Manager Allah Baksh, these loans are being issued under 'maximum wheat sowing scheme' in the province and only 9 percent per annum mark-up would be charged on such loans.

"It is our endeavour to issue maximum amount of loan to small farmers in pursuance of directives of the Government of Punjab, so that they could take benefit of this facility and contribute to the government efforts to increase agriculture production," he said.

According to the plan, the PPCBL would issue a total of Rs 3 billion loans to the farmers for Rabi crop 2004-2005.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2005