Khushhali Microfinance Bank organised a farmer training with agriculture experts at Chah Bhabhay Wali of Kot Chutta. The event was managed by Khushhali's DG Khan branch, in this training participated by around 150 faremers from around the area, involved prominent agronomist and senior scientific officer at NARC Dr. Sikander Khan Tanveer. He enlightened the audience with different ways to increase the yield, to make efficient and profitable use of agriculture techniques and products, the effectiveness of new agricultural technology, emphasis on organic farming and rain water harvesting.
Dr. Sikander Khan Tanveer highlighted that wheat is one of Pakistan’s main crops cultivated on an area of about 9.0 million hectares with the production of about 25 million tons. Farmers were trained regarding the use of latest wheat varieties, proper use of seed rate, soil preparation methods, efficient use of fertilizers, weedicides, and application of water at the proper crop growth stages. Farmers were also given information regarding better use of water which can be helpful in saving water on large scale and regarding the adaptation of such management practices which can be helpful in increasing the soil fertility which would also decrease the emission of Green House Gases (GHG) and ultimately can be helpful in environmental protection, he said.
He further mentioned that help pertaining to farming and wheat varities is available at National Agricultural Research Center Islamabad, Punjab Seed Corporation & other research centers like Ayub Agricultural Research Center Faisalabad and Regional Agricultural Research Centre Bahawalpur etc.
KMBL Area Manager D.G Khan Mansoor Mirza mentioned that agriculture accounts for a major contribution to Pakistan’s GDP as well as around 40% of Pakistan’s labor force. “It is for this reason that Khushhali Microfinance Bank wants to use the powerful tool of microfinance to help farmers increase their businesses, GDP and working labor force of the country. At KMBL we welcome farmers to come and obtain funds from us for their agricultural businesses and our easy instalments and flexible plans make it easier for small business owners like farmers to benefit from micro loans”, he said.
Bilal Bhabha, a farmer in the area mentioned that the training has been very helpful for him and other farmers. “We have learnt a lot of new things to increase wheat production. In our area, no one really guides us and therefore trainings like these are highly beneficial”, he said.
Khushhali Microfinance Bank believes in educating farmers to enable them to benefit the most from the funds they invest in agriculture. As part of its corporate social responsibility, KMBL plans to host similar training sessions in areas with agricultural potential. KMBL also provides microfinance loans to farmers regularly so they can invest in the agricultural business not only to benefit individually but also help Pakistan, a country where agriculture contributes around 20 percent of the overall GDP.