Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 15: To educate farmers on the various credit schemes available with the banks, a capacity building workshop organized by the J&K Bank for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) was held here today.
The workshop was focused on the process of creating credit linkages for FPOs to ensure better access to financial services and was attended by the representatives from more than Sixty FPOs from Jammu division.
Baldev Prakash, MD & CEO J&K Bank chaired the workshop.
Speaking on the occasion, Baldev Prakash said, “The Prime Minister’s vision of doubling farmers’ income laid the foundation for a transformative shift in Indian agriculture, focusing on improving productivity, reducing input costs and enhancing market access. This visionary goal has not only driven innovations in farming practices but also expanded the scope of agri-business, with a strong emphasis on value addition, infrastructure development and financial inclusion”.
“I think now is the best time for the agriculture sector with proactive support from the Government of Jammu & Kashmir under schemes like the Holistic Agriculture Development Programme (HADP) and support for Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs), there is a golden opportunity for farmers to thrive,” he said.
“Together, we can achieve the vision of a thriving, sustainable agricultural economy where our farmers stand empowered and resilient,” he added.
In his remarks, Vikas Mittal, GM NABARD highlighted the importance of FPOs in enhancing agricultural productivity and ensuring that farmers can collectively access financial services.
“Our partnership with J&K Bank is aimed at empowering FPOs with the knowledge and tools they need to succeed. By deepening financial inclusion and creating effective credit linkages, we can ensure that farmers receive the necessary support to improve their livelihoods,” he said.
The participants expressed appreciation for the Bank’s commitment to provide them timely and appropriate financial solutions for agriculture and its allied activities.
The workshop also included interactive segments, wherein farmers engaged with Bank officers to clarify their queries and discuss the specific credit needs of their organizations.
Among others who graced the event included Director Horticulture C L Sharma, MD JKRLM Shubhra Sharma, Bank’s General Manager (Credit) Ashutosh Sareen, General Manager & Divisional Head (Jammu) Sunit Kumar, Deputy General Manager Rakesh Magotra, LDMs, DDM’s NABARD, and other senior officers of the Bank & Agriculture department.