An Agriculture Officer and an Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) serve different roles within the agricultural sector, though both contribute to the development of farming practices and rural economy. An Agriculture Officer typically works with government departments such as the State Agriculture Department or central agencies, and is responsible for implementing agricultural schemes, advising farmers on modern practices, monitoring crop production, and ensuring the supply of quality seeds, fertilizers, and pesticides. They play a broader administrative and developmental role at the block or district level. In contrast, an Agriculture Field Officer (AFO) is a specialized officer recruited primarily by banks (like under IBPS for public sector banks) to promote and support agricultural lending. Their main role is to assess the credit needs of farmers, verify the feasibility of loan proposals, ensure proper utilization of agricultural loans, and help implement financial inclusion programs. While Agriculture Officers focus more on policy and field implementation, AFOs concentrate on the financial aspect of agriculture, acting as a link between the banking sector and rural/agricultural communities.

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