Rural finance experimental project

THE NATIONAL PROJECT"S ACTIVITIES ARE DESIGNED TO PRODUCE AT LEAST ONE RURAL FINANCE SYSTEM WHICH EXTENDS CREDIT (AS DEMONSTRATED) TO A TARGET GROUP; HAS RECOVERED THE LOAN ON TIME & WITH INTEREST,RECOVERED OPERATIONAL COSTS THROUGH INTEREST OR LEVIES, AND FINANCED EXPANDED OPERATIONS THROUGH MOBILIZING RURAL SAVINGS. PROJECT EVALUATES THE FOLLOWING CREDIT SYSTEMS: 1)ENCOURAGING SMALL BORROWERS TO LOOK TO CREDIT INSTITUTION FOR ALL CREDIT NEEDS,BUILDING A LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP (SUGGESTED BY BANGLADESH KRISHNI BANK); 2)EXTENDING SMALL FARMER AGRICULTURAL CREDIT OR GROUP CROP-RELATED LOANS THROUGH KRISHNI SHAKHA AGRICULTURAL SUB-BRANCH BANKS (SONALI BANK INITIATED THIS); 3)ALLOCATING CREDIT FOR AN AREA"S DEVELOPMENT NEEDS -- AREAS TO BE WITHIN A HALF MILE RADIUS OF AN EXISTING BRANCH OF JANATA BANK; 4)PROVIDING SMALL FARMER SERVICE CENTERS(INITIATED BY AGRANI BANK)TO ASSIST WITH COMMERICAL-AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES THROUGH LOANS,TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE,STORAGE FACILITIES,CROP DRYERS & SCALES; 5)TRAINING BRANCH LENDING OFFICERS (WITH PUBALI BANK AS INITIATOR) AS CREDIT OFFICERS & REFERRAL AGENTS ON NEEDED SERVICES SUCH AS AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION,RURAL HEALTH CENTERS; 6)COMMISSIONING A VILLAGE AGENT (VIA RUPALI BANK) TO ASSIST WITH SMALL FARMER LOANS WITH AGENT TO RECEIVE SALARY PLUS COMMISSION FOR EACH LOAN REFERRAL; 7)LENDING TO A VILLAGE LEVEL GROUP (DEVELOPED BY UTTARA BANK). STARTING COOPERATIVES FOR LANDLESS,SHARECROPPERS,WOMEN. (THE INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM-IRDP & THE JATIYA SAMABAYA BANK-JSB EXPERIMENT WITH CREDIT MODELS IN THIS TARGET AREA.) SMALL RURAL FARMERS/PRODUCERS BENEFIT.