As monsoons continue to bestow good rainfall in Chhattisgarh, distribution of agricultural loans at just one per cent interest under the State Government's plan has also increased significantly.
The primary agricultural credit cooperative societies, affiliated to District Cooperative Central Banks of state, have distributed short-term agricultural loans worth Rs 1,256.67 crores till July 6, against the given target of distributing loans worth Rs 2,300 crores in the current Kharif season.
last year, the societies had distributed loans worth Rs 922.07 crores in the same span of time during Kharif season. Hence, in comparison, the amount of loans distributed this year in the given duration is Rs 234.69 crores more than previous year.
Officials of Chhattisgarh State Cooperative Bank (Apex Bank) informed that this is the second consecutive year when agricultural loans are being distributed at the nominal interest rate of 1 per cent in state, as per the announcement of Chief Minister Raman Singh. As per provisions of the scheme of state government, farmers are given 50 per cent of the agriculture loan as cash and remaining 50 per cent in form of kind.
Officials informed that agricultural loan distribution for Kharif crops in primary cooperative societies go on from April 1 to September 30 every year. This year i.e. in Kharif 2013, about Rs 1200 crores were distributed as agricultural loans to farmers till 4 July but within three days, this amount crossed the mark of Rs 1256 crores.
Meanwhile, in the same duration of time,Rs 334.69 crores have been distributed as agricultural loans to farmers in District Cooperative Central Bank, Raipur affiliaed societies of Raipur, Gariaband, Baloda-Bazar-Bhatapara, Mahasamund and Dhamtari districts.
In District Cooperative Central Bank, Durg affiliated societies of Bemetara, Durg and Balod districts, Rs 272.16 crores have been distributed as agricultural loans to farmers. Similarly, in the District Cooperative Central Bank, Rajnandgaon affiliated societies of Kabeerdham and Rajnandaon districts, Rs 249.55 crores have been distributed as loans. In District Cooperative Central Bank Bastar affiliated cooperative societies of Jagdalpur, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Kanker Dantewada, Sukma and Bijapur district, Rs 108.97 crores have been distributed as short-term agricultural loans to the farmers.
Officials informed that in this duration, District Cooperative Central Bank, Bilaspur affiliated societies of Mungeli, Bilaspur, Janjgir-Champa and Korba districts including Pandariya branch, Rs 222.25 crores have been distributed as agricultural loans. Meanwhile, in District Cooperative Central Bank Sarguja (Ambikapur) affiliated societies of Sarguja, Balrampur-Ramanujganj, Surajpur and Koriya districts, Rs 43.05 crores have been distributed as agricultural loans. likewise, in District Cooperative Central
Bank Raigarh affiliated societies of Jashpur and Raigarh districts, Rs 24.98 crores have been distributed as short- term agricultural loan in the same duration.