Date:19/03/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/03/19/stories/2004031901681000.htm

Back Nabard refinance at lower rates likely

A.J. Vinayak

Nitte (Udupi district) , March 18

THE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is likely to reduce the rate of re-finance for cooperative banks.

The Chairperson of Nabard, Ms Ranjana Kumar, who was here on Thursday to address the students of K.S. Hegde Institute of Management, said that this would give greater fillip to agriculture sector.

In an interactive session with students, she said that micro-finance groups in rural areas should be converted into micro enterprises. Training and marketing are necessary for the success of micro-finance groups.

Self-help groups (SHGs) could be successful, provided they directly interacted with customers. The SHGs should avoid middlemen in their endeavours.

Ms Kumar stressed the need for the inclusion of food-processing industries in agriculture, and said that this area was emerging as a good business proposition.