Co-op bank agri loans dip in Haryana

Cooperative banks in Haryana are not able to meet their lending targets due to the liquidity crunch. Many farmers have stopped repayment for kharif expecting a reward for defaulters, like the Centre’s loan waiver and debt relief scheme. The delay in recovery is resulting in delay in extending fresh loans to small and marginal farmers.

According to data provided by the State Level Bankers’ Committee, Haryana extended agricultural loans to the tune of Rs 2,755 crore till December 2008. This was just 42 per cent of the targeted Rs 6,572 crore. For the corresponding period of 2007, the cooperative banks provided Rs 4,385 crore agricultural loans — 76 per cent of the targeted Rs 5,742 crore.