The State Government provided a total of Rs 3089.93 crore by February-end to 9,71,991 farmers to undertake cultivation during 2016-17 Rabi season against target of Rs 5,000 crore set for the year.
Cooperation Minister Dr Damodar Rout informed this in the State Assembly in response to a question of BJP MlA Dilip Ray on Wednesday.
According to information, the above numbers of farmers were provided Rabi loans through 17 Credit Cooperative Banks. While Baleswar farmes were provided the highest of 312.17 crore, Gajapati farmers provided lowest of Rs 87.2 crore.
The nationalised, private and Gramya Banks provided farm (both Khariff and Rabi) loans of Rs 4254.54 crore against the target of Rs 10,587.05 crore by February-end.
The State Government has targeted to provide Rs 6,000 crore to farmers during the coming Kharif season. However, the banks have not informed their targets of farm loans yet to the Government, said the Minister.