Under its ambitious project 'HCCB Debt Swap' HCCB has adopted 30 villages in Hoshiarpur District for total clearance from Private Money Lenders or Shahukars etc. Purpose of the Project is to save the farmers from exploitation of private money lenders arhtyias by providing bank finance to clear burden of costly debt. Beneficiary of this project are Small and marginal farmers who have availed loan from private money lender are ready to clear the same with will to never get trapped in the private money lender's net in future.
Under the aegis of NABARD HCCB has taken an agressive implementation of 'Kisan Club Programme' in the Hoshairpur district. Bank has planned to cover 500 villages in the Hoshiarpur district under this programme. The Programme was launched by NABARD in November 1982 to propagate the five principles of “Development through Credit”.
The five principles of Farmer's Club.
Work must be done with skill so as to increase production and productivity.
A part of the additional income created by credit must be saved.
Loan instalments must be repaid in time and regularly so as to recycle credit.
What are Farmers' Clubs
Farmers’ Clubs are grassroot level informal forums of farmers. Such Clubs are organised by rural branches of banks with the support and financial assistance of NABARD for the mutual benefit of the bank and the village farming community/rural people. With the enhancement of the programme, other agencies like NGO, VAs, KVKs, SAUs etc. are also now included as agencies included in the formation and promotions of FCs.
Functions of Farmer's Clubs
1.The broad functions of the Farmers’ Clubs as envisaged are as follows Coordinate with banks to ensure credit flow among its members and forge better bank borrower relationship,
2.Organise minimum one meeting per month and depending upon the need, there would be 2-3 meetings per month. Non-members can also be invited to attend the meetings,
3.Interface with subject matter specialists in the various fields of agriculture and allied activities etc., extension personnel of Agriculture Universities, 4.Development Departments and other related agencies for technical know how upgradation. For guest lectures, even experienced farmers who are non members from the village/ neighbouring villages could be invited,
5.Liaison with Corporate input suppliers to purchase bulk inputs on behalf of members, Organise/facilitate joint activities like value addition, processing, collective purchase of inputs and farm produce marketing, etc.; for the benefit of members.
6They can also sponsor / organise SHGs, JLGs etc.
7.Undertake socio-economic developmental activities like community works, education, health, environment and natural resource management etc.
8. Market rural produce and products
Emerging Role of Farmers’ Clubs:
The broad objective of setting up Farmers’ Clubs would be to achieve prosperity for the farmers with overall agricultural development in its area of operation by facilitating credit counselling, technology counselling and market counselling. Over the years, the vision of Farmers’ Clubs has undergone a change and the role expected to be played by Farmers Clubs have been enlarged to enable them to facilitate transfer of technology, propagation of seed village concept, strengthen agricultural extension services, undertake collective purchase and distribution of inputs, production and marketing, capacity building of members, to act as Business Facilitators (BFs)/Business Correspondents (BCs) for banks, formation of Self Help Groups (SHGs), Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), Producers Groups/Companies, Federations of Farmers’ Clubs, undertake community related works, and assume the role of a leader.