NABARD State Focus Paper out

Tribune News Service

Shimla, February 11

The State Focus Paper prepared by NABARD estimates a priority sector credit potential of Rs 22,389 crore for 2018-19, which is an increase of 10 per cent over the potential for the last year.

Chief Secretary Vineet Chawdhry, who was the chief guest at the state credit seminar held here, released the State Focus Paper for 2018-19 along with a booklet on “State level area development schemes” prepared by NABARD. The theme of the State Focus Paper is “Water Conservation - Per Drop More Crop”.

The assessment of potential for agricultural and allied sector in the State Focus Paper has been pegged at Rs 10,689 crore (48 per cent) and the potential for the MSME and other priority sector is assessed at Rs 11,701 crore.

Kishan Singh, Chief General Manager, HP Regional Office, NABARD emphasised on the promotion of more Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) for the benefit of small and marginal farmers. He said 54 FPOs had been formed with a financial support of Rs 4.89 crore from NABARD. He also mentioned importance of supplementing farmers income by supporting more investment credit in allied activities and off farm activities by banks to double farmer’s income by year 2022.

The State Focus Paper of NABARD is expected to act as a blue print for the credit and infrastructure planning by the state government and will form the basis of the Annual Credit Plan for 2018-19 to be prepared by banks for the state. Senior officers from the state government, RBI, SLBC, commercial banks, cooperative banks and regional rural bank attended the seminar.

The various interventions proposed by the NABARD during 2018-19 include water campaign to be conducted in eight districts of the state for awareness and mapping of water resources covering 3,121 villages. The bank also proposes to support a mega food park in Una district in the year, digitization of self help groups in Mandi, Kangra, Sirmour and Solan districts, four projects under Tribal Development Fund in Kinnaur, Chamba, Bilaspur and Lahaul Spiti districts covering 1432 tribal families and support under Green Climate Fund.