Create conditions for people to access capital for agricultural and rural development

Thanks to access to preferential loans for investment in agricultural and rural development from branches of the Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Agribank) in the province through lending groups, in recent years, hundreds of thousands of households in the province have had access to capital with preferential interest rates to develop production, create jobs, and increase income. Capital from banks has become a "lever" contributing to promoting economic development associated with building new rural areas, advanced new rural areas, and models in localities.

Agribank Cam Thuy staff checks the loan usage situation in Cam Tan commune (Cam Thuy).

With a delegation of Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa officials, we came to learn about preferential loan models through loan groups in Quang Xuong district. Mr. Le Thien Nham, Tan Phong town, said: “My family's entire current business has been built up by Agribank over many years. My family has been connected and attached to Agribank since the early days of starting the business in 1995, and has been given favorable conditions to borrow capital to invest in raising traditional fish. Up to now, my family has borrowed 500 million VND from Agribank Nam Thanh Hoa to invest in building dozens of cement cages, each cage is 50m2 wide, specializing in producing specialty fish breeds brought from the southern provinces. Every year, my family's fish breeding facility sells 8 to 10 million fish breeds to the market. In addition, my family is also the main source of commercial fish for local households to export to Laos and the provinces: Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Tri, Hue. Every year, my family's revenue reaches 8 to 10 billion VND, with a profit of nearly 1 billion VND, creating jobs. for 5 to 6 workers, with income from 6 to 8 million VND/person/month".

The loan group has truly become an "extended arm" contributing to the timely and effective transfer of preferential capital from Agribank to farmers. The loan group performs tasks such as reviewing loan applicants, guiding and confirming borrowers to prepare documents and procedures to submit to associations, unions and commune-level People's Committees for approval, notifying and supervising borrowers to receive money according to the bank's disbursement schedule, supervising the borrowers' use of capital according to the loan application purpose, urging borrowers to repay the debt directly to the bank on time, being responsible for propagating, disseminating and requesting borrowers to comply with relevant regulations of the bank and the superior association. The head of the loan group is selected as a prestigious person, close to the members and able to closely follow, urge and grasp the borrowing needs of the members in the group. People participating in borrowing capital are evaluated for loans at the group, disbursed, collected debts, and collected interest through mobile groups and commune transaction points, which has contributed to saving travel costs and accessing loan capital more conveniently and easily. In addition, during the borrowing process, group members are also trained by farmers' associations and women's unions at all levels, and transferred science and technology, thereby building feasible production and business plans, promoting the effectiveness of loan capital.

As of mid-November 2024, the whole province has established 4,842 loan groups, with more than 142,000 members participating in loans, outstanding loans reaching more than 20,000 billion VND, bad debt ratio below 0.03%. The activities of loan groups have really brought great efficiency and significance, especially in mountainous districts, remote areas, and extremely difficult areas. Propaganda and mobilization work at the grassroots level has been carried out persistently, synchronously, comprehensively, and continuously, bringing very positive results. For many years, in localities, there have been almost no petitions or letters from people to higher levels regarding loans, negative issues have almost completely decreased, and other arising problems have been detected and resolved promptly. Through all levels and loan groups, Agribank's credit capital has reached the people more conveniently, contributing to helping members invest in production development. The loan group management board has coordinated with the bank to promptly resolve any problems that arise. Agribank's lending programs have promoted the development of craft villages, such as: Tu Tru sticky rice cake craft village, Xuan Lap toothpick cake, Phu Xuan rice vermicelli, Ngoc Thom conical hat (Tho Xuan); Tan Chau rice paper (Thieu Hoa); Thang Long rice vermicelli, Van Thang incense (Nong Cong); Phu Quang lam tea (Vinh Loc); Ai village soy sauce (Yen Dinh), traditional bamboo and rattan weaving craft village of Hoang Thinh commune (Hoang Hoa)... Thereby, people have access to capital to maintain and expand production and business, create jobs for workers, and contribute to the development of the local socio-economy.

The loan groups are considered as the "extended arms" of Agribank branches, performing well the role of management and propaganda on credit policies for agricultural, farmer and rural development. To improve the operational efficiency of the loan groups, Agribank branches in the province are continuing to coordinate with interested organizations and unions to improve the quality of the loan group network; strengthen the inspection and supervision work, the purpose of capital use of borrowers after disbursement to ensure credit capital reaches the right subjects in need and effectively uses the loan capital.

Article and photos: Minh Ha

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/tao-dieu-kien-cho-nguoi-dan-tiep-can-voi-nguon-von-phat-trien-nong-nghiep-nong-thon-232243.htm