Introduction

"Rural India which comprises 5.5 lakh villages and encompasses three fourths of the Country's population is Characterized by low income levels, inadequate to ensure a quality of life compatible with physical well being. The Ministry of Rural Development, spearheading the frontal attack on rural poverty, through its various programmes endeavored to reach out to the last and most disadvantaged sections of society, provide them with avenues of employment, be it self-employment or wage-employment, and to improve infrastructure relating to their life support systems." NABARD implies both the economic betterment of people as well as greater social transformation. In order to provide the rural people with better prospects for economic development, increased participation of people in the rural development programmes, decentralization of planning, better enforcement of land reforms and greater access to credit are envisaged. This project focuses various schemes and facilities provided by NABARD for betterment of agriculture. My main concern in this project is to find awareness of farmers of sitapur (farmers of sitapur and enclosed areas) regarding NABARD and schemes funded by this apex body. Most of the farmers do not know scientific farming techniques and financial help that then can get.

Motivation
Agriculture is backbone of any economy. Condition of farmers of a country depicts condition of a country. Low agro production increase inflation in price hence slower the economic growth of that country. NABARD is government body involved in funding farmers and educating them to choose right crop and right methods of production. Most of the farmers are ignorant about the schemes of NABARD thus are not able to benefit it. This research contains the structured questionnaire that has to be filled by the farmer ( or asked their opinion if their education limits them in filling it), during this questionnaire session many schemes of NABARD will be discussed which will make them aware about this body (NABARD) and schemes of financing provided by it, which I think will be most accountable measure. It will also help NABARD to understand the farmers and reach them in a better way.

Objectives of the Research

Main objective To know about various schemes provided by NABARD for upliftment of farmers. Sub Objectives To know various problems faced by Indian farmers at present. To understand their need and awareness regarding NABARD.

Description of Research
Research Problem
My research topic is Farmers awareness towards schemes and funds provided by NABARD with reference to Sitapur So the problem of the research is to find awareness of the farmers towards NABARD and various schemes provided by it. For resolving this problem and array of questions has been constructed for the farmers included in Questionnaire and the Schemes of the NABARD has been researched through government publications and website of NABARD.

Research Methodology
& Brief about Experiment
My research methodology requires gathering relevant data from the specified documents and compiling databases in order to analyze the material and arrive at a more complete understanding to know about the exact position of Indian farmers and role of NABARD in helping them.

RESEARCH DESIGN 1. Type of research - The type of research was Descriptive and Exploratory 2. Population - Of study was the farmers of sitapur and surroundings 3. Data Collected - Primary data and Secondary data 4. Data collection techniques Primary Data - The data was collected through questionnaire and personal interview Secondary Data Journals, publications, books and internet. 5. Data collection site - The data collection site was Sitapur city

SAMPLE DESIGN Sampling procedure - Sampling procedure used in the project is Systematic

Sampling. Sample size - 100 farmers

SOURCES OF DATA Primary Data

Data collection will consist of surveys to be filled by farmers. If the farmer is not able to fill it question are asked to know their opinion.

A qualitative evaluation shall be utilized for this research project leveraging subjective methods such as interviews and observations to collect substantive and relevant data.

Secondary Data The secondary data began with the process of collecting general information from Journals, publications, books and internet.

NABARD (National Bank for Agriculture and Rural

Development)
Twenty four years ago, to be precise on July12,1982, by an Act of the parliament ,NABARD came into being with the avowed objective of providing focused and undivided attention to the development of rural India which was, and even now is, crucial to the countrys economic progress. Naiads mandate touches practically every aspect of rural life. As its mission statement underscores, NABARD is to promote sustainable and equitable agriculture and rural prosperity through effective credit support, related services, institution development and other innovative initiatives. As its core business is the credit support that suits every activity in rural India. Today it has a tremendous reach through 28 regional offices at the state capitals, a suboffice. It refinances commercial, co-operative and regional rural banks for lending to on farm and non-farm activities like minor irrigation, animal husbandry, farm mechanization ,forestry, fisheries, land development, horticulture, plantation and medicinal corps and non-farm like rural industries, artisans, handicrafts, handlooms, rural housing, rural tourism and so on. Refinance is provided by NABARD for both long term investment credit as well as short term production credit for crop rearing and working capital for non-farm activities. Clearly NABARD has been silently working for supporting diversified activities and its stakes are quite awesome. The figures speak for themselves. It has channelised

whopping Rs 8622crore disbursed during 2005-2006. under production credit the bank sanctioned limits of Rs 11,889 crore during 2005-2006. NABARD has effectively brought in a number of innovations in the rural credit domain. To quote a few: SELF HELP GROUPS, FARMER CLUBS, RURAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT FUND, WATERSHED DEVELOPMENT, KISSAN CREDIT CARD, DISTRICT RURAL INDUSTRIES PROJECT CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME AND RURAL INNOVATION FUND.

Conclusion
NABARD is working for the 360 degree development of rural India. Every year the financial assistance received by NABARD and the disbursement made out of it are increasing. The balance sheet size also increased from Rs.81220 crore to Rs.98706 crore & profit after tax from Rs.856 crore to Rs.1226 crore. In short we can say that NABARD is providing rural India all round assistance and proved to be an institution where "Growth with Social Justice" exists.

Bibliography

NAFSCOB (Analytical and graphical presentations are made by CSID, NABARD)

www.nabard.org The Financial Express Business Standard

Questionnaire

THE FARMERS QUESTIONNAIRE QUESTIONNAIRE

for PARTICIPATING FARMERS Name____________________________ Location/region____________________________________________________

THE FARM LANDSCAPE . 1. What size is your farm? __________ Acres 2. How is use of the land distributed? Hay/grain (winter animal feed) Animal grazing (summer feed) Garden Forest/woods Grain (human consumption) _____ acres _____ acres _____ acres _____ acres _____ acres

3. Do you have a pond or stream? Yes _____ No _____ With aquatic life? describe ________________________________ .

ANIMAL PRESENCE
. 4. Do you have cows? If yes, how many? _______________________ 5. .Do you have bull(s)? If yes, how many? _____ 6. Do you own it? _____ Borrow? ______ 7. Animal Diversity what other animals do you have on the farm and how many? Goats _____ how many

Chickens _____ Pigs _____

Other ________________________________________________ . .8. Do you keep bees? No. of hives __________ If no, are bees a noticeable presence on the farm? Explain. ____________________________________________________ . 9. What percentage of the animal feed is produced on the farm? ______________________________________________________ If not 100%, where do you get the rest of the animal feed? ______________________________________________________ Is it organic? ___________________________________________ FARM FERTILITY .. 10. Please describe your type of soil. Is it inherently fertile? Does it require a lot of inputs? _______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________ 11. Is there a noticeable presence of earthworms on your farm? In what areas? __________________________________________________ .

12. What percentage of the compost is generated: Wholly on the farm? _____________________________________ Made on the farm from imports, specify percentages ______________________________________________________ Imported . ____________________________________________

PRODUCTION . 13. Please list the products produced on the farm and approximate quantity or acreage of each: Medicinal Herbs -for preparation of preps _________________________________ -to benefit insects ______________________________________ -food and medicine for animals and people ___________________ Vegetables ___________________________________________ Grains _______________________________________________ Fruit _________________________________________________ Hay _________________________________________________ Honey ________________________________________________ Dairy products __________________________________________ Other _________________________________________________ 14. Do you save your own seed for replanting? Yes/ No

. AWARENESS ABOUT NABARD 15. Have you taken loan or funding for agriculture? If yes specify the scheme and bank __________________________________________________________ 16. Do you know about NABARD Yes / No 17. Which of the following schemes of NABARD you know or taken benefit of Generation of Rural Employment and Sustainable Livelihood through Cattle Development Centers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar : NABARD, BAIF and Govt of India collaboration PILOT PROJECT FOR INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT OF BACKWARD BLOCKS (PPID). Swaranjayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY) Scheme for setting up of Agriclinic and Agribusiness centers Crop Insurance 18. Have you ever attended any seminar by NABARD for educating agricultural practices yes/ No 19. Do you know about bankable project on various agricultural practises available in NBARD which are published through journals or are available on their website? Yes/ No 20. Are you willing to approach towards NABARD for helping you in your preset agricultural business Any suggestions ________________________________________________________ _ ________________________________________________________ _