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FAISALABAD: State Bank of Pakistan in collaboration with University of Agriculture Faisalabad has launched the Agriculture Financial Literacy Student Ambassador Program to educate the farming community about the agricultural finance scheme to free them from the exploitation of the middleman. It will also help increase awareness among farmers about the latest agricultural trend.
During the opening ceremony, UAF Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Muhammad Sarwar Khan that 100 UAF students are involved in SBP’s scheme that will create awareness in the four tehsils of Faisalabad. He said such initiatives were the need of the hour in dealing with the farming community and a way to avoid the middleman.
He said it is worrying that the country is importing agricultural products worth billions of rupees. We need to transform our agricultural sector on modern lines and come up with comprehensive policies to reduce imports and boost exports.
Director, Department of Agricultural Credit and Financial Inclusion SBP Abid Qamar said this flagship initiative aims to raise awareness among the farming community about available financial schemes and government-led initiatives. AFLP stands out as a pioneering effort because it brings together all key stakeholders, including SBP, commercial banks, federal and provincial government departments, to collectively engage with farmers. He said the country imports agricultural goods worth billions. If we become self-sufficient in the sector, it will bring prosperity to the country.
Waqas Kashif Bajwa, Chief Manager SBP BSC Faisalabad said that as many representatives of 11 banks are participating in the launching ceremony. He said students will receive the given training. And the program will be expanded to the rest of the country in the future, involving other universities.
Institute for Agricultural Resource Economics UAF head Dr. Muhammad Asghar, Huma Bukhari, Joint Director of FISD SBP Nadeem Khanzada Sr., Joint Director of Department of Agricultural Credit and Financial Inclusion spoke on the occasion.
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