Farm sector gets priority
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27/03/2008
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Deccan Chronicle
The annual district credit plan projected finance to crop loans to the tune of Rs 1,014.60 crore for 2008-09. Of this, the ambitious plan allocated Rs 659.49 crore to kharif season and Rs 335.11 crore to rabi season. The district Collector Sandeep Kumar Sultania unveiled the district credit plan with an outlay of Rs 2,139 crore for 2008-09 as against Rs 1,728 crore for 2007-08 at a meet held here on Wednesday. The plan has provided Rs 76.74 crore to minor irrigation as against Rs 60.93 crore for 2007-08 with a view to improve the irrigation potential mainly dug wells, pump sets, drip and sprinkler irrigation schemes. With a view to promote horticulture and plantation aromatic plants, the action plan has allocated Rs 1059 lakhs. In view of the vibrant potential of the dairy to create livelihood opportunities in the rural areas, the credit plan has made a projection of Rs 8,666 lakh for dairy development this year as against the target of Rs 2,982 lakh last year. In the non-farm sector, the credit plan has projected an amount of Rs 37,203 lakh against 32,184 lakhs last year. Under the other priority sector segment, the action plan has made a projection of Rs 27,578 lakh for 2008-09. The credit plan has laid a special emphasis on small and medium enterprises with an allocation of Rs 93 crore. Focus has been laid on the development of agro industries and food processing. This apart, a substantial amount of Rs 300 crore has been allocated for micro-credits to self-help groups. The collector urged the officials to work in tandem with a pragmatic approach to realise the ambitious targets envisioned by the action plan. The senior officials of State Bank of Hyderabad, Reserve Bank of India, Andhra Bank, National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard), Canara, Union Bank and several other banks and concerned government departments participated in the meet.