Addressing the participant of training workshop "Agri-finance and Capacity Building of Agri Credit Officials," which was arranged by development finance support unit (DFSU) SBP and Bankers Club, Chief Manager SBP Dr Muhammad Saleem said that the disbursement plan of Rs 7.5 billions on pilot project phase-II in agricultural sector is going on in 28 districts of the country successfully.
He said Kisan Mela would be held at Jhang on February 16, which is being arranged by National Bank of Pakistan in which various banks would highlight their finance products of agricultural. Dr Saleem said that Agriculture Credit plays a pivotal role in agricultural development of a country.
Credit requirements of the farming sector have been increasing over the years mainly due to the rise in the use of seed, fertiliser, pesticides as well as for purchase of agricultural machinery etc. In order to cope with the increasing demand of agricultural credit, institutional credit to farmers is being provided through Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), commercial banks, Punjab Provincial Co-operative Bank Ltd (PPCBL) and domestic private banks.
Earlier, highlighting the SBP policy on agricultural, Rizwan Haider Malik, Vice President of Askri Commercial Bank briefed the participant about the rural and agricultural financing services being provided by the banks. At the end, Dr Muhammad Saleem distributed certificates among the participants.