FARMERS’ CLUB PROGRAMME
The Farmers’ Club program is one of the major institutional development initiatives of NABARD aiming at strengthening the gross root level Rural Financial Institutions. NABARD launched the program way back in 1983. In Andhra Pradesh the launching of Farmers’ Clubs commenced late in November 1986.
As a part of its developmental initiatives NABARD conceived an informal forum of progressive villagers who have successfully followed principles of development through credit, with objective of propagating these principles among villagers.
The Farmers’ Clubs act as catalysts in rural areas that not only transform the rural communities but also assist Rural Financial Institutions. The members of the Farmers’ Clubs are non defaulting borrowers among the local villagers. They have volunteered to disseminate the principles of “Development through Credit”, inculcate repayment ethics and promote people’s participation, which are the core objectives of Farmers’ Club Program. People’s participation enables them to gain access to better services and broader range of opportunities in the villages.
FIVE PRINCIPLES OF ‘DEVELOPMENT THROUGH CREDIT’
- Credit must be used in accordance with the most suitable methods of Science and Technology.
- The terms and conditions of Credit (or Techno–Economic parameters) must be fully respected.
- Work must be done with skill so as to increase productivity and income.
- A part of the additional income created by Credit must be saved.
- Loan installments must be repaid in time and regularly so as to recycle Credit.
The major functions of the Farmers’ Clubs are:
- To meet at regular intervals to discover / identify the Credit and Non Credit needs of the farmers and fellow villagers.
- To create awareness among beneficiaries and other villagers.
- To assist the Bank in preparing Credit plans, Deposits mobilization, Recovery etc.
- To identify cost effective, appropriate technology and inputs in Agriculture and Allied Activities, suitable to the local conditions and needs. To gather information on resource persons and agencies. To organize training program for propagating the usage of tecnology and ultimately help for dissemination of information, skill development for increased productivity & income levels in all activities for all people - socially and economically weak, poorest of the poor in the club villages.
- To promote peoples participation in the process of development.
- To improve the existing infrastructure and make an effort to create forward and backward linkages with the help of agencies concerned. These activities help to establish a direct linkage between repayments on one hand and credit delivery on the other.
- Bringing about attitudinal changes among the borrowers for their own good.
- Providing continuous feedback to Banks and other agencies.
- Playing a role of a catalyst in the overall development of the village.
- To motivate the villagers for proper use of credit and timely and proper repayment of Bank Credit.
- To motivate the villagers to save additional income with Banks and also help Banks and other agencies in promoting Self Help Groups (SHGs).
Chaitanya Godavari Grameena Bank has so far launched 74 Farmers’ Clubs through its 62 rural and semi urban branches.
 The Farmers’ Club launched by its Valiveru Branch “ Chaitanya Grameena Abhyudaya Kendram” bagged state level awards twice for the activities taken up by the Club.
 The Farmers’ Club launched by its Dachepalli Branch “Nava Chaitanya Farmers’ Club” bagged state level award once for the activities taken up by the Club. |
