October 26, 2004

Dear Sir/ Madam,

As you are aware, the scheduled commercial banks are required to achieve a target of 18 per cent of net bank credit (NBC) towards lending to agriculture. The agriculture lending by public sector banks was recently reviewed by the Prime Minister. He desired that all public sector banks should achieve the target of 18 per cent of NBC to agriculture by the end of 2004-05 and to monitor the progress on a monthly basis.

2. Accordingly, in order to enable us to provide the progress reports to Government of India, you are advised to furnish data on lending to agriculture on a monthly basis (as on the last reporting Friday of each month) to us, commencing from October 2004, in the enclosed format on or before the seventh day of the following month to which the data pertains.

3. You are also advised to take appropriate steps to increase the flow of credit to agriculture sector so that the stipulated target is achieved by the end of the year 2004-05.

4. Please acknowledge receipt.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

Encl: As above.

NAME OF THE BANK:

(AMOUNT IN RS. CRORE)

1. Net Bank Credit:
2. Total Agricultural Credit:

1. Direct agricultural credit:
2. Indirect agricultural credit: