Expedite crop loans: CM to bankers

Hyderabad, July 25 : Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy asked the bankers to expedite issue of crop loans to the farmers in view of the picking of the sowing season with good monsoon all over the state.

The Chief Minister said the total disbursements under agriculture credit during 2012-13 was Rs.73,648 crore against the target of Rs.52,972 crores. This year as against the target of Rs.67,224 crore an amount of Rs.13,951 crores has been achieved so far. Officials informed that the Kharif loaning is under progress and all the bankers were requested to issue crop loans as per scales of finance. He reviewed the Khariff 2013 preparedness with the Minister and Agriculture officials at a meeting on agriculture and seasonal conditions at Secretariat.

The Chief Minister said that the bankers should be insisted to stipulate one year period to the farmers for repayment of crop loans under “Vaddi Leni Runalu” scheme. For 2013-14, more than Rs.500 crores will be paid under “Vaddi Leni Runalu” on crop loans upto Rs.1 lakh and Rs.60 Crores under Pavala vaddi. The Chief Minister agreed to provide charges to 256 Assistant Directors for hiring private vehicles. Officials informed the Chief Minister that as against the normal area sown in Kharif season of 81.12 lakh hectares, it is estimated that an area of 86.95 lakh hectares will be covered during this Khariff season.

The foodgrain production is also estimated to be 119.34 LMTs as against the normal of 99.78 LMTs. As far as subsidy seed distribution during kharif 2013 is concerned, officials informed the Chief Minister that 12.67 lakh quintals of various crop seed have been positioned and so far 9.94 lakh quintals have been distributed on subsidy worth Rs.163.12 crores. It is planned to supply 40.75 lakh MTs of different fertilizers during Kharif-13. Till date 11.35 LMTs of fertilizers were supplied. As on date, 8.37 LMTs of fertilizers are available in all the districts across the State (including 2.44 LMTs of buffer stocks available with AP MARKFED). Strict vigilance on cross border movement of fertilizers is being done.

Under the Modified National Agriculture Insurance Scheme- Khariff 2012 season, claims to an extent of Rs 424 Crores have been settled which will benefit 2,77,091 farmers of East Godavari, West Godavari and Krishna district. Under the Weather-based Crop Insurance Scheme-Khariff-2012-13 season claims of Rs.344 crores have been settled which will benefit 6,62,022 farmers pertaining to 10 districts. The Chief Minister asked the bankers to issue the input subsidy to farmers without any link to previous dues or adjustments. He said the input subsidy is the capital for next crop as far as famers are concerned and the State Government has substantially increased the input subsidy.

The Chief Minister said that all arrangements should be made on par with international standards for the World Agricultural Congress to be held in Hyderabad from 4th to 7th of November 2013. He said that 500 delegates will attend the Congress. Prime Minister Dr.Manmohan Singh has been requested to be the Chief Guest, while the Union Agriculture Minister Shri Sharad Pawar will be the guest of honour. The WAC will discuss the African, Asian and Indian agriculture practices.

Kiran Kumar Reddy agreed to appoint a full time OSD for the World Agriculture Congress. Minister for Agriculture Kanna Lakshminarayana, Chief Secretary Dr.P.K.Mohanty, Principal Secretary, Agriculture Anil C.Punetha, Principal Secretary, Finance V Bhaskar and other senior officials attended the meeting. INN