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Agri credit review meet held

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 25 � The cumulative number of Kishan Credit Cards (KCCs) issued by the banks for the farmers of the state is very low. This has come to the fore with a review done at the instance of State�s Agriculture Minister Rokybul Hussain, said the Agriculture Department in a press release here today.

As against the target of 7,64,500 KCCs to be issued by various banks in the state during the 2014-15 fiscal, the achievement so far is 91,005, the press release said.

Addressing the review meeting on agricultural credit and KSS, held at the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) Regional Office here yesterday, the agriculture minister laid stress on the need to provide timely and adequate credit to the farmers. He urged the banks to achieve the target set for 2014-15 and assured all supports from the state government in sponsoring adequate applications to various banks.

The minister also reviewed the interest subvention scheme of the state government for crop loans and urged the banks to submit their claims. He also underscored the need for wider publicity about the KCC through the print and electronic media to create awareness among the farmers at the development block and district levels. The state government would issue necessary instructions to the Deputy Commissioners in this connection, he said.

The banks responded positively and gave their commitment in achieving the target and also provide a list of bank branches to the Agriculture Department for sponsoring of applications immediately.

The meeting was also addressed by VK Pipersenia, Additional Chief Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner. He laid stress on strengthening of the management information system (MIS) and the KCC to track the progress on regular basis for which the State Level Bankers� Committee (SLBC) convenor, that is � the State Bank of India (SBI), is to initiate the process.

He also indicated that the infrastructure created by the Agriculture Department could be used for the Farmers� Clubs of the NABARD to hold meetings in a structured manner for the benefit of farmers.

The meeting was attended, among others, by the senior officers of the Agriculture Department, including Secretary of the Department A Baruah and its Director Dr K Borkakaty, NABARD CGM A P Sandilya, its GM Smt R K Baruah and senior officers of the banks, including the Reserve Bank of India and the SBI, said the press release.

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