Emphasis is being laid on the overall development of the agricultural sector in the state under the Vikel to Pickel campaign
Mumbai: Under the Vikel to Pickel campaign in the state, emphasis is being laid on the overall development of the agricultural sector. It focuses on issues ranging from crop planning to market research, development of infrastructure in the agricultural sector, development of agro-processing industries, value addition of crops. Accordingly, various departments of the government and the banks should sit together and work out a policy on how to make the farmers and the agricultural sector more capable, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. At the same time, he gave a clear order that banks should immediately finance the agriculture sector through a one-stop scheme.
In the same way that projects under Ease of Doing Business are expedited in the industrial sector, banks should immediately approve all proposals under agriculture through a one-stop shop scheme to enable agriculture and farmers through increased credit, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said. He was speaking at the 151st meeting of the State Level Bankers Committee chaired by the Chief Minister. The meeting approved the state’s credit plan of Rs 4 lakh 60 thousand 881 crore for 2021-22.
In this plan, the target for agriculture sector is Rs. 1 lakh 18 thousand 720 crore and the target for crop loan is Rs. 60 thousand 860 crore. The target for small, medium and micro enterprises is Rs. 2 lakh 49 thousand 139 crore in the annual credit plan of the banks. The credit target for other priority groups is Rs 93022 crore.
Stating that the agricultural sector, which remained open during the Corona crisis, saved the state’s economy, the Chief Minister said that banks should play a role in co-operating with the creditors when it comes to village development. Banks should make pickers available to farmers on time as the rains are said to be satisfactory this year.
Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh’s interest repayment scheme, which provides loans to farmers who repay their loans up to Rs. 1 lakh at zero percent interest rate, is now being implemented in the state. The limit is now being increased to Rs. 3 lakh and banks should provide loans to farmers. The Chief Minister said this time.
Picker loans should be available on time – Ajit Pawar
Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar said that loans should be made available to farmers easily and on time for the kharif season. Farmers in that district will be severely deprived of credit supply. “Banks provide easy loans to large farmers but also to smallholder farmers. Banks should provide information on how many loans have been given to farmers by commercial banks, increase the limit imposed by NABARD and RBI on financing of sugar industry,” he said.
Increase credit supply – Agriculture Minister
Farmers’ deposits are widely accepted in commercial banks, but these banks are reluctant to provide loans to the same farmers. Expressing hope that this should not happen, Agriculture Minister Dadaji Bhuse said that 19 per cent crop loan has been given so far this year. Of this, co-operative banks account for 33 per cent and commercial banks 4 per cent. Therefore, commercial banks should increase credit to farmers, he said.
