Bank of Baroda has initiated a fortnight-long farmer engagement programme called ‘Baroda Kisan Pakhwada’ aiming to connect with the farming community.
The ‘Baroda Kisan Pakhwada’ programme was announced commemorating the World Food Day celebrations on October 16. This is the fourth edition of the programme this year.
The engagement programme is being celebrated with the theme of “our actions are our future” in line with that of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The initiative primarily acknowledges and appreciates the contribution of farming community towards the economic growth of the nation and includes various farmer outreach events, knowledge series, felicitation programmes, a statement from the bank said.
The fortnight long pan-India initiative will conclude on October 31 benefiting a large number of farmers through multiple channels.
Bank of Baroda also launched “Centre for Agriculture Marketing and Processing (CAMP)”, its new centralized agri-loans processing units across 16 zonal offices. The CAMP is a dedicated credit delivery model with a focus on financing non-traditional agricultural products and handle agri-marketing activities. The CAMP consists of trained manpower with understanding and exposure to handling high value credit accounts. Bank will also promote collaborations with local organisations for sourcing quality business.
Speaking on the occasion, Sanjiv Chadha, managing director at Bank of Baroda, said: “This has been one of the very few sectors which has not only been resilient in the face of ongoing pandemic but has also been growing. Further, a large number of Agritech firms are changing entire agri ecosystem and landscape. This all is resulting into newer opportunities for growth at a much-reduced cost. We continue to benefit from these opportunities. As the country celebrates ‘Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ (75 years of Independence), we are committed to invest in the sustainable growth of the agri and allied industries. Under Baroda Kisan Pakhwada programme we introduce and promote Bank’s farmer centric initiatives and encourage more farmers to get associated with us and reap benefits for generations ahead.”
Speaking on the occasion, Vikramaditya Singh Khichi, executive director at Bank of Baroda, said: “Our bank is leading the adoption of technology across all spheres of banking and finance including agriculture financing. Bank’s new centralized processing system would ensure uniformity, faster TAT and highest compliance standards. In the changing market scenario, CAMP would promote adoption of new and innovative agriculture products and practices to have a diversified agriculture advances portfolio for the bank.”
In the last three editions of ‘Baroda Kisan Pakhwada’, Bank of Baroda has conducted about 56,727 events (including physical and virtual choupals, Kisan Melas, health camps for soil, animal and farmers) reaching out to 12,24,452 farmers. The bank has also been acknowledged by Limca Book of Records for organizing the largest farmer-connect programme for the year 2018.
