Role of State Bank of India in Agricultural Finance (With Reference to Study of Agricultural Financing of Niphad (Nashik) Branch)

Agriculture is the largest sector of economic activity which provides not only food and raw material but also employment to a vast proportion of population in India. Agriculture being the dominant sector, improvement or changes in the national output depends upon output in the sector. For the same reason, it has provided the capital needed for its own development and makes available surplus for national economic development. The State Bank of India and its subsidiaries are playing an active role in the field of agricultural finance, both, through their direct and indirect financing schemes. The scope for direct finance is limited while for indirect financing the scope is on the increase. The present paper underlines the growth record of agricultural financing schemes of S.B.I, Niphad (Nashik) branch.