“I was told about the microcredit scheme by a woman in our village who took a loan.

I took 5 subsequent loans, starting with of an amount of PKR. 100,000.

We plant and harvest two crops annually. One is rice and the other is wheat. I need money to buy fertilizer and fuel to run the water pump.

With the loan, I can buy fertilizer, oil, and seeds at market price on cash and store the items at home. I don’t have to depend on the broker anymore; he charged me an extra PKR. 500 on every sack of fertilizer.

The loan also allows me to sell our produce to anyone we want, instead of pledging it to the middleman as repayment. I can invest my profits and savings in my business.

We have saved enough money to add a goat herd to our farm. When these goats grow, I plan to sell them and repay my debt. With the profit I will buy more goats and keep growing my business and keep saving.

Microcredit has enabled us to lease more land and increase our wheat produce. We are currently living in a joint family but in future we plan to build our house and plan for our children’s future. I want to build this small business so they can have a secure future.”

• Took 5 micro loans to buy fertilizer and fuel
• Tanveer and her husband grow wheat and rice on their farm
• With their savings they have added a small herd of goats
• After 5 loan cycles, she has saved enough to not need any more credit
• They plan to grow their goat herd with their savings

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