Khushhali Bank Limited (KBL) envisaged a need for introducing structured skill enhancement programs into communities it serves through development of Distance Learning Programs. These programs were concise and designed over agriculture, livestock/fisheries and enterprise management through outsourced arrangements. Videos and print material was used to provide technical information to clients and potential clients, men and women. The information was available from mobile distance learning vehicles to reach remote areas that were equipped with state of the art video/television, audio equipment and generator. The broad purpose of imparting trainings was to improve discipline in the trainees’ management of income and debt besides improving productivity through functional training modules.
Distance Learning programs’ (DLP) objective was to spread business development services and corporate image building materials by mobile training units that were well equipped with media technologies, raising the confidence of existing and potential borrowers and communities at large thus enabling the Bank to develop its’ market and client loyalty.
DLP was launched in April 2008 in Sindh, Balohcistan and FATA simultaneously. Twenty video training modules on livestock & dairy sector, agriculture and horticulture, fisheries and micro enterprise management were developed. The subjects of the modules are listed below;
Livestock and Dairy Sector
1. Breeds of livestock with reference to their productivity traits;
2. Importance of balanced feeding for enhance productivity of livestock;
3. Methods of urea feeding in livestock;
4. Feeding dairy animals for higher milk production;
5. Fattening of Small Ruminants;
6. Range management and grazer training;
7. Awareness about Contagious Diseases and their Vaccination Program;
8. Awareness about External & Internal Parasites and their Control;
9. Detection and control of mastitis;
10. Care and management of new born calves;
11. Reproductive health management;
12. Hygienic milk production and dairy products;
Agriculture and Horticulture
13. Soil and water sampling and storage for testing;
14. Good farming practices- Wheat;
15. Good farming practices-Cotton;
16. Good farming practices-Rice;
17. Spraying Techniques and Pests Control
Fisheries
18. Fishing techniques, planning and Net basics;
Micro Enterprise Management
19. Basic financial management for micro enterprise; and
20. Small shop management.
The subject matter which was used in these modules was specific to regional market conditions and customized to language options such as Pushto, Sindhi and Baluchi besides Urdu, which is widely comprehended in most areas of Pakistan.
Eight expert trainers with expertise as per subjects of training modules were recruited, who imparted trainings in the field with mobile training units. By providing technical information ranging form production to sales, quality control and costing of their production and labor, introducing new ideas, new crops and new enterprise products or product designs, etc potential & existing clients developed great respect for the Bank through appreciation of the new way of accessing information. Question & answer sessions at the end of each training session by expert trainers particularly, further intensified amity among the trainees.
During DLP span from April 2008 to Mar 2009, 2,452 training sessions were conducted in Sindh, Balochistan and FATA, which were attended by 71,763 trainees, surpassing the target of 68,880 trainees. There were 3,165 female trainees.
DLP was a component of the project “Developing Non-Bankable Territories for Financial Services”, which concluded on September 30, 2009.
Special Initiatives
