Sanction loans for the poor & marginalised farmers of state: Minister tells banks

Purnendu Basu, the state Agriculture minister, urged banks to give priority to sanction loans for the state's poor and marginalised farmers.

Speaking at a programme organised in the city on the 36th foundation day of NABARD, he said sanctioning loans to "poor and marginalised" farmers is a major problem.

There are around 72 lakh families in the state who are dependable on agriculture and 96 percent of them are "marginalised and poor" farmers.

"Above 70 percent of the farmers' families cannot approach for loan despite having Kishan Credit Cards (KCC) as they have shortcomings in regard to furnishing the necessary documents that the banks ask for to sanction the same. But a point that has to be noted is that last year the farmers have invested a total of Rs 23,000 crore for agriculture. This is a huge capital that they gather by mortgaging their jewellery and taking loans from moneylenders and invest in agriculture," he said.

The minister further added that there are many who didn't clear hundreds of crores of their loan amounts to the banks. NABARD and co-operative banks extend all support to farmers.

"So it is my request to look into the matter of sanctioning loans for the poor and marginalised farmers in the state by all banks."

This comes at a time when the state is leader in the country in producing rice and vegetables.

A K Raybarman, CGM, NABARD; Rekha G Warrar, R D RBI and Partha Pratim Sengupta, CGM of SBI were also present in the programme.

The Agriculture minister also stressed on the initiatives taken for organic farming in the state and weekly markets that are organised at Bidhan Sishu Udyan near Ultadanga, Baguiati and another near the Lake in South Kolkata.

A financial support is needed so that famers can engage vehicles to transport the organic produce to the markets, the minister added.