JOYPURHAT, Oct 25: Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (RAKUB) Joypurhat zone has begun distribution of agri-loan for FY 2010-11. They have set up a target for loan disbursement Tk 7.0 billion and the recovery target is Tk 5.6 billion. The zonal office sources said, last year they disbursed Tk 6.0 billion while the target was Tk 6.2 billion and they recovered Tk 3.6 billion against the target of Tk 5.2 billion. Now the loan holders of all the branches in the zone were 34219 persons and all the disbursed loan were Tk 14.8 billion. According to the zonal office, they already have disbursed Tk 1.3 billion and recovered Tk 0.8 billion this year. The bank has set up the target to disburse the loan in SME for trading, service center, clinic, small manufacturing, cold storage, rice-paddy trading, fishery, poultry and dairy. Mohammad Abdul Waseque Manager of Joypurhat Zonal office said they disbursed agri-loan among poor farmers and poultry growers specially. They emphasise to SME, poultry, dairy and spices. He added, they have set up a poultry village in Jamalganj area under Joypurhat Sadar and Akkelpur Upazila, a fishery village in Panchbibi Upazila and taking initiative to set up a dairy village at Dhalaher UP area under sadar upazila. He also added taking loan from RAKUB, the poultry growers of Jamalganj poultry village has done well. They have made them solvent to rear the chickens. So he encourage the poor poultry farmer and general farmer taking agri-loan to cultivate their arable land and other activities to develop their farm. Source: The Financial Express/26 Oct 2010