MICRO
LEASING MOVING INTO RURAL FINANCE FOR AGRICULTURE
Agriculture is central to economic
development and growth in Pakistan. Being the dominant sector of the
economy, agriculture contributes 25 percent to GDP, employees 44
percent of country’s work-force and contributes substantially to
export earnings. It also contributes to growth as a provider of raw
materials and as a market for industrial products. What happens,
therefore, to agriculture is bound to have a substantial impact on
the growth of overall GDP.
We at Al-Zāmin
Leasing Modaraba have started to expand our operations and products
into agricultural areas of rural Sind. Techniques developed for
rural financing/leasing includes tailoring procedures and products
to agricultural seasonal needs, applying risk management techniques,
and joining hands with local intermediaries. Rural areas are
dependent on a few principal crop and livestock activities; the
seasonality angle of the rural financing has to be kept in mind
while developing products for the rural population
MATCHING
DISBURSEMENT AND REPAYMENT TO AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION CYCLES:
Flexibility in loan disbursement and repayment.
FLEXIBILITY
IN COLLATERAL REQUIREMENTS:
Land hold little
value as collateral in rural areas, personal guarantees, movable
assets, and group guarantees have been identified as adequate
alternatives.
USING
INTERMEDIARIES:
Partnership with
different intermediaries and vendors have increase operational
efficiency and lower costs of operating in rural areas.
FLEXIBLE
DELIVERY MECHANISMS:
Making use of
existing delivery outlets, rather than investing in expensive new
branch networks.
HID Values:
This rural financing
has helped in improving quality and production in the target sectors
and thereby enhance income generating activities of the farmers. It
has also enhanced per acre yield, created employment opportunities
in agri-business sector and lead to poverty alleviation. :