Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank (KVG Bank), a Dharwad-based regional rural bank, has decided to increase its disbursal to the agriculture sector by 35 per cent to Rs 1,350 crore during the current financial year.

The bank also plans to double its exposure to the agriculture sector and has drawn up its own Agriculture Credit Plan (ACP) and launched the campaign titled ‘Marching towards Farmers.'

The Chairman of the bank, Mr C. Sambasiva Reddy, said the bank initiated this measure with a view to strengthen the rural credit delivery system for facilitating smooth credit flow to the rural sector in general and to the agriculture sector in particular.

“The bank has also decided to cover all the un-covered farmers with agriculture related loan product before September 30,” he added.

During the campaign period, the bank proposes to set up a small group of officers/managers in every regional office to meet every alternate day to review the progress on credit flow for crop production.

“Still some of the farmers are expelled from getting even simple crop loans and a survey has been carried out to find out such category of farmers. The bank has directed all its 471 branches to approach each house in the villages and no eligible farmer should be left out for simple reasons like not having accounts or want of no due certificate,” said Mr Reddy.

He also said the bank is taking the assistance of Farmers Club, NGOs and State Agricultural Department.

“For those farmers who avail agri-related loans before September 30, procession fees, inspection charges and other charges will be waived,” Mr Reddy added .

Mr Sanjeev Sinha Deputy General Manger, Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Bangalore, Mr S. Srinivasan Deputy General Manger, NABARD, Mr Naveen Chandra Shetty, Government nominee director of the bank, also spoke.

Mr Muralinath Gupta, General Manager of the bank, and senior officials were also present.