Consider the following statements about the Farmers’ Club Programme:

1. It is a programme under NABARD (The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development).

2. It organizes farmers in rural areas and helps them with better seeds.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

• The Vikas Volunteer Vahini (VVV) programme was revisited and renamed as the Farmers’ Club Programme (FCP) in 2005. The Farmers’ Club is a grass root level informal forum of farmers in the village.

• Such clubs are organized by rural branches of banks with support and financial assistance from NABARD for mutual benefit of the banks and the farmers. The services of Non-Government. Organizations (NGOs), Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs), Agricultural Universities (AUs), Line Departments etc., can also be availed for the purpose.

• Keeping in view the structural and other challenges of the agriculture sector and also various policy initiatives of the Government of India, the programme has undergone various changes since inception.

• The goal of the programme is capacity building and empowerment of the farming community and, more particularly, the small and marginal farmers across rural areas. The main objective of the programme initially was to propagate the five principles of “Development through Credit”, viz.,

• Credit must be used in accordance with the most suitable methods of science and technology;

• Terms and conditions of credit must be fully respected;

• Work must be done with skill, so as to increase production and productivity;

• A part of additional income created by credit must be saved; and

• Loan instalments must be repaid in time and regularly, so as to recycle credit.

Core Objectives

• Development through credit;

• Promoting technology transfer and technology adoption by the farmers;

• Promoting skill based training for the farmers; and

• Community mobilization

Assistance of a total amount of Rs. 12,000 per farmers club (FC) per annum, is provided for a period of 3 years towards meeting maintenance expenses; awareness meets, workshops and meet with expert programmes for trainings and capacity building of FC, as per the calendar of activities charted. Further, FC promoting NGOs are eligible for honorarium of Rs. 3,000/- to Rs.6,000/- per FC per annum for a period of 3 years for hand holding and guidance, depending on the number of members.