Chief Secretary Ram Subhag Singh held a meeting with Chairman NABARD Dr. G.R. Chintala here today to discuss about various ongoing developmental projects under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) in Himachal Pradesh.
It was informed that during the year 2021-22, the ground level credit flow to priority sector was Rs. 20260.14 crore whereas the credit flow to agriculture sector was Rs. 8855.60 crore under NABARD. In the year 2021-22, the achievement made by NABARD under annual credit plan remained 77.98 percent.
As many as 4.36 lakh farmers have been covered under Kisan Credit Card (KCC) in the state and a target to cover more five lakh farmers under KCC has been set. In the year 2021-22, about Rs. 7296.17 crore loans has been disbursed as crop loan in the state and estimated credit potential for the year 2022-23was Rs. 29172.00 crore.
The sanctions have increased from Rs. 510.59 crore in financial year 2017-18 to Rs. 1134.33 crore in financial year 2021-22 for the state.In 2021-22, about Rs. 1134 crore have been sanctioned under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for various developmental projects including setting up of poly-houses, ropeways and sewerage projects.
The Chief Secretary asked the officers of the various department and NABARD to look into the constraints in credit flow to agriculture sector. He also asked to take effective steps to strengthen Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Primary Weavers Cooperative Societies (PWCS) in Himachal Pradesh.
Principal Secretary R. D. Nazeem, Principal Secretary Bharat Khera, Secretary Amitabh Awasthi, Secretary Dr. Ajay Kumar Sharma, General Manager, HP Regional Office NABARD Dr. Sudhanshu K.K. Mishra, Special Secretary Rakesh Kanwar and other senior officers of various departments were also present in the meeting.