April 2, 2006	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 3, 1427

ISLAMABAD, April 1: Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) is all set to start disbursement of loans for kharif crops under Zarkhaiz scheme from Monday. According to a press release issued here on Saturday the bank had already earmarked Rs17.245 billion for farm loans for the kharif season.

Production loans would be provided under the one-window operation throughout the country with the collaboration of respective provincial governments, agriculture department, board of revenues and postal authorities.

The bank would not extend farm loans in Timergara and Chitral in NWFP, Turbat in Balochistan and FANA being unsettled/hilly areas.

Farmers having land holding up to 25 acres irrigated and 50 acres barani were eligible to get loans under this scheme with maximum limit of Rs0.100 million per farmer under one-window and Rs0.200 million under Sada Bahar scheme.

Loans for kharif crops would be provided till July 31, 2006. The field functionaries had been advised to visit focal points of one window operation to ensure timely provision of credit to farmers.

ZTBL had introduced one-window operation in order to meet the production credit needs of small farmers timely and satisfactorily. Due to the timely credit availability farmers were in a position to use good quality seeds, appropriate doses of fertilizer and pesticides which in turn enhanced the yield of crops substantially.