Agrani plans to boost lending for shrimp cultivation in southwest
Thursday, 12 January 2012
Md Mazadul Hoque
State-run Agrani Bank plans to scale up loan disbursement for shrimp cultivation in the country's coastal belts to help boost shrimp exports.
The bank has put stress on financing shrimp farmers of Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira-the region known as the country's shrimp capital.
"Since frozen shrimp export is the third biggest foreign exchange earner, we've taken up this initiative," Mobarak Hossain, the head of credit department of the bank, said.
Mr Hossain said the bank is expected to increase its involvement in the sector in the coming financial years in the light of the Bangladesh Bank directive to finance export-oriented industries.
The bank disbursed Tk 802 million among 4,651 fish producers in the just-out year in Satkhira district where shrimp cultivation was first introduced in 1972, the official said.
In Bagerhat, which is the second largest shrimp cultivation hub in the country, the bank lent out Tk 488 million among 3,726 fish farmers, the official said.
An amount of Tk 259 million was disbursed in Khulna district among 2,084 fish cultivators at the end of 2011.
Loan recovery also proved successful in the coastal areas and Tk 1,739 million has so far been realised as on December 31, 2011, the official said.
Officials said the outstanding loans in three coastal districts amounted to Tk 177 million, the official added.
State-run Agrani Bank plans to scale up loan disbursement for shrimp cultivation in the country's coastal belts to help boost shrimp exports.
The bank has put stress on financing shrimp farmers of Khulna, Bagerhat and Satkhira-the region known as the country's shrimp capital.
"Since frozen shrimp export is the third biggest foreign exchange earner, we've taken up this initiative," Mobarak Hossain, the head of credit department of the bank, said.
Mr Hossain said the bank is expected to increase its involvement in the sector in the coming financial years in the light of the Bangladesh Bank directive to finance export-oriented industries.
The bank disbursed Tk 802 million among 4,651 fish producers in the just-out year in Satkhira district where shrimp cultivation was first introduced in 1972, the official said.
In Bagerhat, which is the second largest shrimp cultivation hub in the country, the bank lent out Tk 488 million among 3,726 fish farmers, the official said.
An amount of Tk 259 million was disbursed in Khulna district among 2,084 fish cultivators at the end of 2011.
Loan recovery also proved successful in the coastal areas and Tk 1,739 million has so far been realised as on December 31, 2011, the official said.
Officials said the outstanding loans in three coastal districts amounted to Tk 177 million, the official added.