State govt task force tells banks to disburse crop loans by May 31

TNN | May 4, 2016, 03.01 AM IST
Nagpur: Head of the Vasantrao Naik Shetkari Swavalamban Mission (the task force set up by the state to address farm distress), Kishore Tiwari, has instructed banks and financial institutions to disburse at least 80% of the crop loans for the impending kharif season by May 31.
The Mission held a meeting of farmers from Chandur Railway taluka's Dhanora (Mogal) and Ghuikheda villages on Monday as part of its 'government at your doorstep' programme. Tiwari exhorted farmers to not to get bogged down by the earlier cycle of crop losses and get ready with new resolve for the fresh season. He said that besides the regular crops, farmers should look for supplementary income from dairy farming or some value addition.
He said that the state government this year has acted in advance to plan for the kharif season and fixed a target of reaching out institutional finance to 80% of farmers in the state. Revenue officials have been directed to complete documentation of each and every farmer requiring crop loan and provide them assistance at every village. Loan camps will be held at taluka level for speedier disbursal. Banks have been told not to insist on mortgage for crop loans of less than Rs1 lakh and give it on basis of land documents presented by the farmer.
Tiwari also advised farmers to cut expenses on costly chemical fertilizers and rely on natural farming, bio-fertilsers and manure prepared in farms. He also stressed on the need to revert to traditional coarse grains and food crops instead of cash crops. Farmers were also told about benefits of the new PM Crop Insurance Scheme that would help them recover their losses in case of crop damage.
Tiwari and district collector Kiran Gite also heard problems of resettlement of Ghuikheda villagers displaced by the Bembla irrigation project.