Kathmandu. The Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) has been increasing investment in agriculture sector. The bank has disbursed Rs 39.53 billion in agricultural loans till mid-April 2082, giving priority to the loan investment in the agriculture sector.

Information Officer Pawan Regmi said that the bank has been providing agriculture loan at a cheap interest rate by setting a minimum premium on the base rate of the bank.

The bank has been investing in poultry, goat rearing, cow, buffalo rearing and fisheries and has been providing ‘Province Special Agricultural Loan’ up to Rs 50 million at an interest rate of 4.75 percent.

Similarly, the bank has been providing loans to small farmers up to Rs 1 million at an interest rate of 4.75 per cent without charging any processing fee. The bank is also providing the facility of ‘Kisan Credit Card’ to the farmers. Information Officer Regmi said, “The bank has issued a separate agricultural credit policy and implemented agricultural loan work procedure in order to make the service delivery of agricultural loans more systematic.”

In order to make the investment in agriculture more effective, the bank has established a separate Department of Agriculture and Social Banking at its central office and has been deputing skilled agriculture experts in the department, provincial offices and branch offices. The bank has been providing agricultural loans through its 314 branches in all 77 districts of the country.