Page 84 - DMGT512_FINANCIAL_INSTITUTIONS_AND_SERVICES

Unit 6: NABARD

Banks (CBs) and other financial institutions approved by RBI. While the ultimate beneficiaries Notes
of investment credit can be individuals, partnership concerns, companies, State-owned
corporations or co-operative societies, production credit is generally given to individuals.

Case Study NABARD to tie up with Banks, NGOs to drive
Organic Farming

To implement project in 7 districts in association with KSSF.
The programme will integrate the activities of over 10,000 farmers in the first phase.

The regional office of the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)
is planning to promote organic farming in the State through banks and non-governmental
organisations (NGOs).

The programme will integrate the activities of over 10,000 farmers with organic farming,
in the first phase, according to Mr K. C. Shashidhar, Chief General Manager, Nabard,
Kerala.
NGOs Meet
A meeting of NGO stakeholders convened here has decided to publish a white paper on
the potential of organic farming in Kerala.
Addressing the meeting, Mr Shashidhar said that the apex bank plans to promote organic
farming through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs).
Organic farming practices need to be encouraged using local knowledge of farmers. They
also need to be integrated with the tested practices of research scientists and academia. To
accomplish this Nabard will associate itself with Kerala Agricultural University.
"Our mission is to develop an organic farming approach, particularly in all the watershed
development areas," Mr Shashidhar said.

"We will extend support, including capacity-building and financial assistance, for soil and
water conservation measures through ongoing programmes."
NABARD will implement the project in seven districts in Kerala initially in association
with the Kerala Social Services Forum, an umbrella NGO of the State to which as many as
36 NGOs are affiliated.
Training Programme
As a prelude to the formal launch of organic farming in the State through the bank,
NABARD will also conduct a two-week training programme for farmers in organic farming.
The training programme is expected to create the right awareness about organic agricultural
techniques, organic manures, production of bio-control agents such as organic pesticides
and organic fungicides to the participants.
It will also take the participants through topics such as pesticide-free food production
methods, post harvest management means, food security through organic farming and
seed conservation etc.

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