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PUNJAB NATIONAL BANK AND AGRICULTURE CREDIT:

PNB established in 1895, in Lahore commenced its operation with an authorized capital of Rs. 3 lakh and working capital of Rs. 20,000. The bank has been founded by the visionaries and patriots like Lala Lajpat Rai who took active part in India's freedom and economic development.

After its nationalization in 1969, PNB has grown into a strong and large banking institution in the country having 4038 branches which is the highest among nationalized banks with largest network of Rural (1940) and Semi-Urban (793) branches. PNB is a major player in the socio-economic development of the country. During the year 2003-04, Bank has attained unique position amongst peer banks under priority sector, agriculture and weaker sections advances in terms of achievement of National Goals of 40%, 18% and 10% of NBC, respectively. Bank has consistently exceeded the targets of fresh loan disbursements under Special Agricultural Credit Plans for the last six years. Banks has issued over 15 lakh Kisan Credit Cards to farmers.

In recognition of bank's efforts in the field of Rural Development,

  • Bank was awarded Indian Banks Association Trophy for issuance of maximum Kisan Credit Cards.
  • Chairman & Managing Director of the Bank was felicitated by the Hon'ble Finance Minister for achieving of targets under Agriculture lending for the year 2003-04.
  • Confederation of Asia -Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) awarded the Bank "Business Achievement Award for Outstanding Achievement in Rural Development".
In its endeavour to make rural credit easily available to the farmers, new agriculture products like Kisan Ichchhapurti Yojana, Kisan Sampurana Yojana, PNB Dairy Vikas Card Scheme, Scheme for financing tenant farmers and oral lessee farmers for growing crops have been launched. Bank has also signed MOU with 12 leading tractor manufacturers and one Combine Harvest Manufacturer with discount ranging from Rs.3000/- to Rs.15,000/- to the farmers.

The disbursements under agriculture of the Bank have increased from Rs.1447 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs.7452 crore in 2004-05. The growth rates in disbursements were in the range of 33.19% to 42.41%.

As a result of this thrust on disbursements, the outstanding agriculture credit has grown from 3870 crore in March, 2001 to Rs.11661 crore in March, 05. The growth rates have been in the range of 32.19% to 35.92%. The total agriculture credit of Rs. 11661 crore is 44 % of the total PS Advances of Rs.26469 crore.

The amount under agriculture is spread over more than 15.66 lakh accounts. 68.52% of the total farmer borrowers are small and marginal farmers with 46.77% share in outstanding direct agriculture credit. 30.54% farmer borrowers are from SC/ST category.

The Bank has more than 35 schemes covering all needs of agriculturists.

Fulfilling its social responsibilities, Bank has adopted one village in each of its 70 regions spread across the country for overall development of the village.

Bank has established PNB Centenary Rural Development Trust in 1997 and PNB Farmers' Welfare Trust in 2000 with the objectives of promoting farmers' welfare and imparting training to farmers. The first PNB Farmers' Training Centre (FTC) at Village Sacha Khera, District Jind, Haryana has been established which has trained 11431 persons during training programmes mainly in diversification of cropping, cultivation medicinal and aromatic plants, water harvesting, tractor repairing, animal health, etc.

The second and third such FTCs have started functioning at Vidisha in Madhya Pradesh and at Neemrana in Rajasthan. Construction of similar FTCs at Saifai (U.P.), Sarhind (Punjab) and Labhandihi (Chhattisgarh) is in full swing. In total, 9 FTCs are expected to be operational soon.

The Centenary Rural Development Training Centres at Village Dhudike, District Moga, Punjab and Village Matki Jharoli, District Saharanpur are engaged in training farmers and women in various activities like improved cropping technologies, crop diversification by adopting medicinal, aromatic and herbal plants, village craft/handicraft, embroidery/fulkari/sewing, etc, for generation of rural employment , soil testing and artificial insemination of milch cattle.

Another Training Centre, namely, PNB - National Agro Foundation Training Centre in Tamil Nadu is also functional.