Empower the farmers with new age technology: Mahabaleshwara M S

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, June 22, 2018: “It is well known fact that following modern agricultural practices lead to increase in productivity and bank shall be in forefront in extending a helping hand to the farmers for adopting new technology. Agri. business managers who are in direct contact with farmers shall counsel the farmers and advise them about the market conditions, crop patterning etc with the help of new age technology and empower them for taking better decisions” said Mahabaleshwara M S, Managing Director & CEO of the Bank. He also alluded confidence of partnering with Agri. Fin-tech companies to provide technological solutions to manage agriculture portfolio more effectively. He was delivering key note address in Banks ‘Agri Business Conference’ held in Mangaluru today.

“With the Government’s vision of doubling farmer’s income by 2022, there are enough opportunities for financing in agricultural sector. The monsoon has started on a very positive note and forecasts for the ensuing months are also encouraging. Bank will bestow special focus to leverage these positives and is targeting to reach 9000.00 crore of farm credit portfolio for FY 2018-19” said the MD & CEO of Karnataka Bank.

He also advised the branches to focus on the areas, i.e. warehouse receipt finance, irrigation, farm mechanization, agri. gold loan, crop loans, development loans and loans to agro processing units for increasing agri. credit portfolio.

Raghavendra Bhat M, Chief Operating Officer also addressed the participants and asked to focus on healthy Agri. portfolio.

General Manager, Balachandra Y V in his address advised the Agriculture Field Officers and Branch Heads to achieve the agriculture credit targets on monthly basis.

General Managers, Muralidhar Krishna Rao, Nagaraja Rao B, Gokuldas Pai, Manjunatha Bhat B K and Mahalingeshwara K were present during the deliberation.

Review of performance of Agriculture Field Officers, Agriculture Development Branches and Green Branches was made and agriculture lending strategies were finalized during the conference.

In the beginning, Balachandra Y V., General Manager, welcomed the participants and the conference concluded with vote of thanks by Girish M R, Assistant General Manager.