By Sandeep Pattnaik & Brahmi Priya Samantray
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Bhubaneswar: NABARD has been instrumental in providing funding under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund [RIDF] in Odisha, and finance assistance over Rs 10, 698 crore involving around 2 lakh rural infrastructure projects was provided over the years till December 2014, Dr. Harsh Kumar Bhanwala, Chairman apprised chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Thursday during his visit to the state.
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“The critical issues of rural infrastructure gaps in the state has been met through financing under the RIDF scheme pertaining to road, bridge, irrigation, flood protection and drainage sectors,” Sri Bhanwala said.
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“Projects worth Rs. 1055 Crore have been sanctioned during the year 2013-14 and during the current year, by the end of December 2014 projects with RIDF loan of Rs.1354.72 crore have already been sanctioned. Disbursements under RIDF, cumulatively has reached Rs.6576.75 crore by the end of Dec 2014. Around 1 lakh completed irrigation projects under RIDF, have created additional irrigation facility for over 8.65 lakh ha.of cultivated land in the State. Road length of 2280 km. has been created out of 236 completed rural road projects. Similarly, 40700 mt. length of bridges out of 422 completed bridge projects, providing critical connectivity for more than 20 lakh rural people in more than 10000 (10903) villages of the State has been executed,” he said to Naveen.
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During his tete-a-tete with Naveen, Bhanwala also highlighted the key measures NABARD has undertaken in supporting a host of developmental and promotional projects in the State.
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While meeting the bankers, Dr Bhanwala stressed on laying adequate focus on the term lending segment. Appreciating the role played by these banks in the State, he emphasized on the importance of improved technology and good corporate governance as per the changing times in the banking industry.
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With a view to ensuring formal credit to the landless farmers, he urged for upscaling the JFG (Joint Farming Group) financing in the State. Highlighting about various developmental initiatives of NABARD in the State, he emphasized for replication of Wadiprogramme of NABARD extensively in the State, in the hilly and upland areas inhabited by tribal communities. He also insisted that there exists a vast scope for promotion of dry-land horticulture, farm forestry projects for generating sustainable income activities for the inhabitants.
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“NABARD as the apex financial institution in promoting agriculture, has provided ‘Production Credit’ that has reached an all time high of Rs. 4225 Crore in 2013-14. During the current FY,NABARD has disbursed short term credit to small and marginal farmers an amount of Rs. 3120 crore. Besides, NABARD has so far disbursed Rs 2821 crores as long term refinance support to banks, to support capital formation in agriculture and allied activities in the State. Nearly 45 lakh farmers are reportedly getting the farm loans under Kisan Credit Card Scheme (KCC) of NABARD,” Dr Bhanwala said to bankers.
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Among other initiatives, loans from NABARD are availed by the State Government, State owned/ assisted entities, State corporations, Private Corporates etc. for creation of warehousing infrastructure under NABARD Warehousing Fund scheme. NABARD in the State has sanctioned Rs.134.90 crore under WIF for construction of 357 godowns in 303 Primary Agricultural Cooperatives for creation of 1.76 lakh MT storage capacity. This would facilitate Primary Agricultural Cooperatives (PACS) to upscale their capacity for timely procurement of harvest from small and marginal farmers. It is to be noted that, Government of India has allocated Rs. 5000 crore in the Union budget 2014-15, exclusively for creation of warehousing infrastructure both for dry & wet storage.
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Dr Bhanwala also during his visit briefed Naveen a host of initiatives taken by NABARD for looking into the livelihood needs of tribals in the state. NABARD, has been successfully replicating the “Wadi” (the small orchard) project, with all its unique features in tribal areas of the State, with financial support from its Tribal Development Fund (TDF). Multiple horticultural crops are grown successfully in the “Wadis” by small tribal farmers. As at the end of December 2014, a total of 44 “wadis”, benefitting an area of 32,254 acres and helping about 38,000 tribal families, are under implementation in Odisha with NABARD support. NABARD is also implementing 77 watershed projects in partnership with village watershed committees, withmore than 45,000 ha area under treatment benefitting about 16,000 families in the rain fed areas of the State.
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More than 85% of the cultivable land in Odisha is in the hands of small and marginal farmers, who are not able to offer proper security to banks for availing crop loans. To overcome these issues, NABARD has formulated the Scheme of Joint Liability Groups (JLGs), under which social collateral becomes a security cover for banks, according to Sri Bhanwala. As at the end of December 2014, cumulatively 72,600 JLGs have been formed in the State including 11,370 in 2014-15 by banks and development agencies with guidance and support from NABARD.
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“NABARD continued its efforts to spread the message of “Development through Credit” among the farmers through the formation of Farmers Clubs with financial support of NABARD for initial 3 years. The total number of Farmers’ Clubs in Odisha is more than 11,000,” he said to Naveen during his meet.
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“A special project for promoting Women SHGs has been taken up by NABARD in 19 Left-Wing-Extremism (LWE) affected districts in Odisha, under which Women SHGs would be formed for each identified family and credit linked with banks so that they can take up income generating activities. NABARD has sanctioned 111 such projects for promoting more than 18,000 women SHGs in these districts,” he apprised Naveen.
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Besides, Financial Literacy Centres (FLCs) are being established with support from NABARD in all the districts. As on date 85 FLCs have been sanctioned and 70 FLCs have been established by cooperative banks and RRBs with the support of NABARD.More than 15000 unbanked villages have been covered under various financial literacy programmes, Sri Bhanwala cited.
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“In its efforts towards development of cooperative credit institutions, NABARD has launched a new scheme of supporting Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) to develop as Multi Service Centre where farmer members would get all facilities for crop production and its marketing under one roof,” he said.
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“NABARD has also taken a series of promotional initiatives for supporting innovative rural projects, skill upgradation, capacity building, marketing of rural products and bringing innovation in to products and production processes to enhance income and reduce drudgery, in a bid to prop up the potential of Non-Farm Sector in generating employment and ensuring additional income in the rural areas,” Sri Bhanwala highlighted during his meet with Naveen.
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“A Pilot Project on ‘Augmenting Farm Productivity’ had been taken up by NABARD in Balasore District since 2012, which aims increasing the crop productivity by 30% and the net income at farmers’ level by 50% over a period of 3 years. About 20,000 farmers covering an area of 10,000 acres have laid demonstrations on improved paddy, green gram, black gram, ground nut and mustard production technology across the district,” he informed the CM.
