Case Study: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD)

This report evaluates National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s (NABARD) social entrepreneurship activities.

The study uses multiple frameworks to assess NABARD, which reveal that it provided 45% of ground level credit in 1992. The paper states that NABARD’s deep relationship with the Indian government is a challenge as it raises issues of vested and often conflicting interest, bureaucracy and less timely decision and actions, NABARD’s vast network creates issues of distance such as promptness, communication and mutual understanding.

NABARD has disbursed funds and provided refinancing to financial institutions and infrastructure projects. It has helped farmers access credit and security through Kisan Credit Cards issued through the rural banking network. It has also aided the formation of farmers' clubs that help farmers get access to credit, technology and extension services. The paper recommends that NABARD scale out, increasing its regional and international alliances. It also recommends that NABARD:

• Increase its depth of outreach;
• Increase transparency in its operations and connections with government;
• Cover its costs and plan better for the future.