Nabard to provide Credit Plus services

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) is seriously mulling a proposal to provide Credit Plus services through the Farmers’ Clubs. Nabard regional office chief general manager Venkatesh Tagat said North Karnataka offers ample scope for construction of rural godowns and the banks should hold talks with farmers and explore the possibility of godown construction especially in the chilly growing belt.

Addressing the farmers during an interaction session organised at Neeralakatti village in Dharwad taluk recently, he said refinance facility from Nabard would be available for the purpose with subsidy of up to 25 per cent of the project cost. Likewise, Nabard was also extending subsidy for units producing organic manure. Villages covered 100 per cent under solar energy units, would get a special package from Nabard, he revealed.

The CGM stated that Nabard was keenly watching the flow of credit to agriculture and rural development. “Monetary assistance alone is not the criterion for achieving true progress. It is essential to provide information and technology to the farmers,” he said and felt that concentration of lending activities to the crop loan segment was depriving investment credit to take off as envisaged. He called upon banks to give equal importance to advances under investment credit. Proper utilisation of loan amount, information on technological advancement, market trends, value addition are some of the topics that came up for discussion at the session.

The forum provided many answers to the queries raised by farmers.

Karnataka Vikas Grameena Bank chairman K P Muralidharan noted that many farmers are very innovative and that new ideas should be shared with others. “The Farmers Club is the most suitable medium for such exchange of ideas. KVGB has floated 516 Farmers Clubs in its area of operation. For dissemination of information, the bank plans to donate computers to three best clubs soon” he declared.

The Kannada edition of Leisa India, a magazine devoted to farm news in its entirety, was released on the day.