NABARD estimates Rs 3,204 cr credit plan for J&K

The farmers are provided short-term credit for the production of crops by the Public sector banks, Cooperatives and RRBs at concessional rate of interest at the rate of 7 per cent per annum. Government of India provides 2 per cent interest subvention on crop loans up to Rs 3 lakhs on prompt repayment, Sukhdeva said. Interest subvention to cooperative banks and RBs and farmers is routed through NABARD, he said, adding for the year 2009-10, Rs 32.40 lakh has been released to RRBs towards interest subvention. To increase the productivity and production and for creation of awareness among farming community, NABARD initiated farmers centered programmes like farmers' club, development of seed village, training for farmers, exposure visits within and outside the state to see the agricultural development, 300 farmers' clubs formed by the banks and Kissan Vikas Kendras (KVKs) have been supported by NABARD, he said. NABARD implements Government of India (GoI) schemes such as Dairy Enterprenuership Development Scheme (DEDS), Integrated Development of Small Ruminants and Rabbits (IDSRR), Marketing Infrastructure (MI), Rural Godown and Cold Storage schemes in the state and providing capital subsidy, Sukhdeva said. Under DEDS, about 4000 animals with a cost of Rs 10 crore and subsidy of Rs 3 crore have been provided to the farmers in rural areas of J&K during 2010-11, he said, adding under IDSRR scheme NABARD has provided training to 287 farmers for rearing of goats and sheep. NABARD supports for upgrading the skills for creating employment opportunities to rural youth under farm and non farm activities in association with Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and government departments, Sukhdeve said. He said during 2010-11, NABARD supported 28 Skill Development Programme to improve the skill of 700 unemployed youth and granted grant of Rs 12 lakh. NABARD supports the state government in infrastructure creation in rural areas for the projects having influence in improving productivity and production of agriculture crops, employment generation, marketing of rural products, social services and rural connectivity, he said. During 2010-11, NABARD has sanctioned Rs 902 crore for 360 projects covering 290 roads and bridges projects, five Flood protection projects and six minor irrigation projects, 17 water supply schemes and 42 health care projects. The cumulative number of rural projects sanctioned since introduction of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund is 4,532 under various sectors viz 1,887 Rural Roads and bridges projects, 2187 social sector projects which include water supply, health and schools. 378 irrigation and flood protection work projects and 80 projects under agriculture-related sectors, he said.