Odisha disburses Rs 3,142.4 crore crop loan by August end

The state cooperation department has disbursed Rs 3,142.37 crore crop loan in current kharif season as the farmers took advantage of two per cent interest rate for farm sector, announced by the state government three months ago.

The disbursed amount is, however, lower than the target Rs 3,500 crore set for the summer crop season, data received from state agricultural directorate said.

In May this year, the state cabinet had taken a decision that all branches of the state and central co-operative banks would disburse Rs 6,000 crore loan to the farmers for kharif and rabi planting seasons for purchase of seeds and other necessary equipment at two per cent interest rate.

In 2012-13, the state had provided Rs 5,150 crore loan with an interest rate of five per cent per annum.

In a recent crop weather watch group committee meeting, the state agriculture director said, the rainfall was less than normal in coastal, central, western and northern parts of the state, which are key paddy and sugarcane growing areas. However, he stressed that overall crop condition is normal throughout the state. As of 31 August, total crop sowing area in the state was 5.60 million hectare, lower than the target of 6.14 million hectare. The agricultural director said, the rest area will be covered soon with the sowing of pulses and oilseed in September.

For kharif 2013 season, the government has set a foodgrains production target of 10.1 million tonne including 9.6 million tonne of cereals and half a million tonne pulses.

The kharif progamme for 2013 is estimated to produce 8.7 million tonne rice, 0.67 million tonne maize and 0.16 million tonne ragi. Similarly, pulses production target includes 0.14 million tonne each for arhar and moong and 0.15 million tonne of biri.