Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) has taken a number of initiatives to boost up agriculture sector and help enhance income source of the farmers. The bank has launched several schemes and programmes to achieve the objective. These projects included "Sairab Pakistan scheme", "Crop maximisation project" and "white revolution scheme."
ZTBL sources told APP that government has taken many initiatives to support the farming community by providing them liberal credit facility, quality seed and other inputs for better crop production on sustainable basis.
They added that under the "Sairab Pakistan scheme" Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) and KSB Pumps Limited had already signed an agreement to exploit the potential of underground water for irrigating maximum possible lands. The sources added that ZTBL and KSB Pumps collaboration would lead to a new era by bringing more land under cultivation, especially the barren ones.
The joint venture will also be helpful in making ZTBL's "Sairab Pakistan Scheme" a success, they remarked. They said that ZTBL played a pivotal role and served 7 million farmers by disbursing loans amounting more than Rs 440 billion since its inception, adding that the bank has taken a step forward by signing this agreement with KSB Pumps.
The sources said that the ZTBL had identified 109 villages under the crop maximisation programmes and in line with the directives of Ministry of Food Agriculture and Live Stock (Minfal). Those farmers who are members of the village organisation will be extended 'liberal credit facility through ZTBL for the purchase of quality seeds and other inputs for better crop production on sustainable basis, they added.
The ZTBL sources said that under the project, the farmers will maintain an "Agriculture pass book" for the securing the credit. However, the landless farmers on the personal guarantee of two members of the village organisation will get loans according to the credit requirements of the bank and on personal guarantee the farmer will get loan up to Rs 25,000.
Under the dairy farming and live stock promotion the farmers will also get credit to produce maximum milk by rearing animals and protecting them from the diseases. The ZTBL sources added that the bank has also initiated a number of schemes for crop maximisation of wheat, cotton, pulses including gram pulses, adding that the farmers would also get credit from increasing the production of these commodities. This will not only help enhance production of these commodities but their prices will also come down.