Jumping long over its 2014-15 achievement of Rs1,044 crore credit support the NABARD has taken the target for next fiscal up to Rs1,800 crore. Releasing its plan for the financial year 2015-16 the bank said that against the sanctioned credit support, disbursement would be in the tune of Rs1,400 crore and Rs38 crore in the form of grants and soft loans. The rural and agriculture bank has also identified its thrust areas for new year in the form of 46 area based schemes, 40 farm producer organisations (FPO), seed production prgramme, SHGs and WADI programmes.
“Jharkhand has been allocated a target of promoting 25 FPOs by March 31, 2015 and another 40 by the end of 2015-16. We are organising workshops for generating awareness. 28 FPOs are in different stages of registration. The bank is providing Rs10 lakh as assistance,” said KC Panda, NABARD CGM on Tuesday.
The Banks is also eying to support seven new WADI, the orchard based livelihood system for tribal families, in the State. Already 37 such projects covering 50 blocks have been sanctioned with cumulative support in the tune of Rs117.66 crore. 23 watershed projects for 165 villages and 16053 families have also been sanctioned. Now the bank is looking to involve corporate houses for WADI under their CSR activities.
“FPO is a new initiative and Center has give special emphasis on this. Rs200 crore has been allocated to NABARD for promoting 2000 FPOs by March 31, 2016 in the country out of which 25 have to be promoted in Jharkhand by the end of this fiscal. We have been able to mobilise 28 FPOs which are in different stages of registration,” added the CGM.
This apart, seed production programme for making available quality seed have been launched covering all 24 districts of the State. 4109 Farmers’ Clubs for agriculture technology propagation and adoption have also come up covering nearly 5000 villages. NABARD is also going ahead with digitisation work of SHGs launched as pilot basis at Mandu of Ramgarhm, one among the 10 such districts selected nationally.