NABARD should focus on uplifting state's rural economy:CM

Strap: Says three farm laws aimed at protecting interests of farmers

Tribune News Service

Shimla, December 15

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) should work with greater focus on the agriculture sector to strengthen the state’s rural economy, said Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur here today.

He was presiding over the NABARD State Credit Seminar-2021-22 organised by its regional office here. The theme was ‘Collectivisation of Agricultural Produce for Enhancing Farmers’ Income’.

He also released the NABARD State Focus Paper-2021-22 and a booklet on ‘Various refinance schemes of NABARD’.

Thakur expressed hoped that the paper would act as an input for credit and infrastructure planning by bankers and the government to prioritise fund allocation for development.

He said the annual exercise aimed at promoting increased production in agriculture and allied sectors and generating job opportunities in the farm as well as non-farm sectors by the envisaged credit support.

Thakur said being a special state on account of its hilly terrain and other socio-economic conditions, Himachal needed special parameters. Average land holdings in Himachal was one acre and constituted 88 per cent of the total land holdings of the state against the national average of 1.15 hectare and 86.21 per cent, respectively. At least 80 per cent of the total cultivated area in the state was rainfed and all these factors of low productivity and production of agriculture posed challenges for planners and stakeholders, he added.

Appreciating the concept of farmer producer organisations (FPOs) of NABARD, Thakur said the objective of the FPOs was collectivisation of agricultural produce, value addition and collective marketing, so that farmers could fetch better prices of their produce.

He said the cumulative assistance sanctioned to the state under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) was Rs 8,679.28 crore till date, which was a major facilitator in the creation of infrastructure in the state.

He said bankers should issue kisan credit cards to each and every eligible farmer in the state.

The CM said the Centre’s three agriculture laws were aimed at protecting the interests of farmers and free them from exploitation at the hands of middlemen. He said the state government would consider bringing in its own agriculture policy.

The Chief Minister also honoured five farmer organisations on the occasion. CGM, NABARD, Dinesh Kumar Kapila emphasised the need for the formation of more farmer producer organisations in the state for the benefit of small and marginal farmers.

He said the NABARD State Credit Focus Paper 2021-22 also included capacity-building initiatives and development initiatives, particularly in the rural areas.