NABARD recognise Farmers club !
The club has helped the coordinating bank for the programme (Union Bank of India) mobilise Rs. 17.30 lakh deposits from the villagers and recover Rs. 4.70 lakh loans.C. Muthumanickam, chief coordinator for the programme and one of the member of the club, told The Hindu that the village had a population of 1,580 and 200 of them were farmers. The main crop cultivated in the village was coconut.The farmers joined the club so that they could get technical guidance and assistance on agriculture. During the last two years, with various programmes conducted for the members, awareness on “natural” farming had improved. Nearly 75 acres was under natural farming. Further, cocoa was cultivated as inter-crop on 200 acres.
The club had helped the non-members too get loans for education, agriculture and self-employment. “The main benefit is regarding saving,” he said.Apart from 157 recurring deposits opened during the last two years, Rs. 17.30 lakh had gone in as fixed deposit from the villagers. Every household in the village had a savings bank account.
V. Suresh, Assistant General Manager of NABARD, said 23 farmers’ clubs were functioning in the district. Each received about Rs. 10,000 assistance every year. .
