Delta farmers secure 55 per cent loans

Amaravati: Farmers of the Krishna and Godavari Delta region have secured more than 55 per cent of the total agriculture credit sanctioned by the banks in the state during 2017-18 financial year. 

Farmers of Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, East and West Godavari districts have secured loans worth Rs 43,437 crore against the total of Rs 78,125.96 crore sanctioned to the farming community in the state.  

These loans include both Crop loans and Term loans sanctioned to the peasants. Delta region is famous for cultivation of paddy, pulses, spices and other products. Due to availability of Krishna and Godavari waters, the farmers are able to cultivate variety of crops in two seasons. In spite of deficit rainfall this season, the state achieved good progress in crop production.

On the other hand, farmers of the backward districts of Srikakulam and Vizianagaram got the least amount of loan worth only Rs.2,622.42 crore and Rs.1,851.00 crore respectively. Due to lack of agriculture facilities and other reasons, the farmers could not avail bank loan facility in these backward districts. Agriculture minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy submitted the details of the Agriculture loans sanctioned to the farmers in the State Legislative Council on Tuesday.

MLCs Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, Devasani Chinna Govinda Reddy and Gangula Prabhakar Reddy asked the details of crop loans sanctioned to the farmers in the state for the financial year 2017-18. Replying to the question, the minister presented the details of the crop loans sanctioned to the farmers.  

The minister said the State-level bankers committee had set the target of Rs. 87,470.67 crore agriculture loans to the farmers in Kharif and Rabi seasons. So far credit loans worth Rs.78,125.95 crore sanctioned with success rate of 89.32 percent. Rabi season is yet to be completed in the state.

Prakasam district stood first and the Srikakulam was in the last place in the sanction of Agriculture loans to the farmers for the financial year of 2017-18. Prakasam district topped the average in sanctioning of loans with 104.17 per cent.

The government had set the target of Rs.7,506.08 crore. But, the bankers have sanctioned Rs.7,819 crore exceeding the target. Krishna district stood second in sanction of loans with 100.85 percent. State level bankers committee set the target of Rs.8,192.10 crore to Krishna district. The banks have sanctioned Rs.8,261.73 crore for the year 2017-18.

East Godavari sanctioned loans worth Rs.10,472.31 crore against the target of Rs.11,125.61 crore with 94.13 per cent. Srikakulam district got the last place in the state with only 73.81 percent in sanction of loans.

The district banks sanctioned only Rs.2,622 crore against the target of Rs.3,552 crore. Vizianagaram district sanctioned Rs.1,851 crore against the target of Rs.2460 crore.  Anantapur district secured third place in sanction of loans to the farmers. The district sanctioned Rs.6,208.24 crore against the target of Rs.6216 crore.

By Md Ameen