The State Government in its Vision to Delivery Roadmap 2020-25 has taken a decision to strengthen the economic condition of the farmers through cooperatives.
Cooperative Banks and Primary Agriculture Credit Cooperative Societies have been made active to facilitate farmers in getting agriculture inputs, short-term agriculture loans and reasonable prices for their crops. At present, all facilities related to agriculture inputs through cooperative are being provided by these institutions to more than 73 lakh farmers.
The election process of cooperative institutions has been made fair and transparent by the State Government, so that election could be conducted in democratic manner. In rural areas, new cooperative institutions are being formed to create new jobs and for increase in productivity in employment oriented areas.
The State Government is providing the loan on zero per cent interest to the farmers for agriculture inputs. In the year 2019-20, agriculture loan of Rs 9,716 crore has already been distributed. After waiving the time barred loans of 4.95 lakh farmers, the crop loan of Rs 1,633 crore has been made available to them.
Under the Jai Kisan Fasal Wrin Maafi Yojana, an amount of Rs 4,262.68 crore has been released for 17.84 lakh farmers. The loan waiver process of the first phase has been completed and the process for the second phase has already been started. Under the time barred loans, an amount of Rs 2,275.27 crore for 9.42 lakh farmers and under the non-time barred loans of Rs 1,987.41 crore for 8.42 lakh farmers has been released by the Government.
A total of 63.18 lakh Kisan Credit Cards have been issued to the farmers through all the banks, including commercial banks. Out of these, 37 lakh farmers have been issued KCC through District Central Cooperative Banks. Thus in this scheme, the participation of cooperative banks is more than 50 per cent.
Through the cooperative societies the farmers are being distributed chemical fertilizers and advance seeds as goods’ loan. The primary societies are giving priority to advance storage of chemical fertilizers. In the year 2019-2020, till now 19.80 MT chemical fertilisers and 2.53 lakh quintal advance seeds have been distributed to the farmers.
The State Government has sanctioned a share capital of Rs 3,000 crore to primary credit societies and cooperative banks to consolidate their financial status. Out of this, Rs 1,000 crore has been released by the Government. This amount is made available to these institutions for distributing loans to the farmers and for other activities related to farmers’ welfare.