‘Farmers-friendly banking needed for boosting crop production’

Speakers have asked the branch managers and other field staffs of Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) to speed up its farmers-level lending activities for boosting agricultural production to face the gradually increasing food demand.

They said all the credit programmes of the bank should be need- oriented and emphasis should be given on reaching banking services to the doorstep of the farmers.They were addressing a daylong monthly performance review meeting of branch managers and field staffs under Rajshahi zone of the bank held at its office in the city yesterday. Managing Director Monzur Ahmed addressed the meeting as the chief guest with Zonal Manager Lokeman Ali in the chair. General Manager (Rajshahi division) Abdul Khaleque Khan and Zonal Audit Officer Nazmul Haque spoke as the special guests. The speakers laid stress on bringing all the existing potential sectors and sub-sectors of agriculture and its processing under qualitative and quantitative financing for making the country’s northwest region economically vibrant. For the sake of sustainable livelihood development of the farmers and for bolstering the agro- based economy, the speakers called for ensuring accountable, transparent and farmers-friendly banking services as a whole. They said the pro- farmers banking must be ensured for cherished development of the region after the best use of its existing natural resources. They termed the branch managers and field staffs as the vital force for transforming the bank into a profitable organisation and asked them to perform their duties with utmost sincerity and honesty to attain the cherished goal. “You have to supplement the government efforts for boosting the agricultural production, livelihood development of the farmers along with ensuring the food security,” said Managing Director Monzur Ahmed. Referring to the importance of good planning and efforts, he gave directives to attain cent per targets of loan disbursement and recovery, particularly classified loans and deposit collection. “We have no way but to boost up agricultural production to ensure food security and to reduce dependence on import,” he reminded them. -BSS, Rajshahi