In order to help improve the condition of farmers and the farm sector, the State Government has set a target to provide an estimated Rs 3,000 crore crop loan to 15 lakh farmers during the 2012 Kharif season.
Besides, it has decided to disburse Rs 600 crore towards agricultural term loan for the 2012-13 financial year, according to official sources.
The sources said during last Kharif, 2011, the State Government had fixed Rs 2,381 crore to meet the credit needs of the farmers. Considering the performance of the Short Term Co-operative Credit Structure and the credit requirement of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies, this year the amount of the farm credit has been saised to Rs 3,000 crore.
The sources further said that the crop loans would be made available to the farmer members of the Primary Agricultureal Cooperative Societies at concession rate of 5 per cent of interest. If the lonee farmers would repay the outstanding dues on or before due dates, 3 per cent interest incentive would be available to them thereby reducing the cost of credit to 2 per cent per annum, they added.
The crop loan would be provided through Kissan Credit Cards and steps have already been taken to make PACS and LAMPS as single point for delivery of agriculture-related needs of farmers. As many as 5 lakh new KCCs would be issued to farmers during the current Kahrif season.
The sources said besides member farmers in the cooperative fold, the State Government has also decided to ensure flow of credit to tenant farmers and oral lessees through Joint Liability Groups (JLGs).
While it is targeted to achieve credit linkage of at least 50,000 JLGs during the current year, it said at least 3 per cent of the aggregate crop loan advances would be made available to the share croppers through the JLGs.
Stating that target for disbursement of agricultural term loans during the 2012-13 financial year has been fixed at Rs 600 crore, the sources said that the Cooperative Banks have been asked to augment financing under tractor, power tiller, pump set, minor irrigation, farm mechanisation, plantation, horticulture and allied agricultural activities like diary, poultry and fisheries. Banks have been asked to keep close coordination with the line departments concerned to avail of the opportunity.
Pointing out that it has been targeted to disburse highest Rs 300 crore crop loan in Bargarh district followed by Rs 260 crore in Baleswar district, the sources said till June 2, an estimated Rs 546 crore crop loan has already been given to farmers in the State.
Source: The Pioneer,
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