Nearly five lakh farmers in Rajasthan stand to benefit from cooperative loan facility this year following the State Government’s decision to revise the target for disbursement of loans from Rs.5,800 crore to Rs.7,000 crore. State Cooperative Minister Parsadilal Meena also said on Tuesday that special camps for disbursement of loans to farmers for kharif crops would be organised in all village cooperative societies across the State on June 25 and 26. These camps would register thousands of new loan beneficiaries. Addressing a conference of managing directors of central cooperative banks, Mr. Meena said the targets for kharif crops would be achieved by June 30, while about 26 lakh farmers would be given loans this year against 21 lakh during the previous year. The State Government has also sanctioned Rs.200 crore to the cooperative banks towards interest component of loans for farmers making repayment on time. According to Mr. Meena, 50 per cent of the crop loans would be disbursed to small and marginal farmers, 16 per cent to Scheduled Castes and 12 per cent to Scheduled Tribes. The Apex Bank will send the loan amount directly to the village cooperative societies in Tonk district. The Minister assured farmers that chemical fertilizers, including diammonium phosphate, are available in sufficient quantity in the State and the State Cooperative Marketing Federation would ensure supplies to meet the demand. Principal Cooperative Secretary Vipin Chandra Sharma said farmers’ expectations from cooperative banks have significantly increased following the decision for disbursement of interest-free loans. An “anywhere banking” software being tested at Hathoj village will soon be introduced in other cooperative societies. Mr. Sharma said computerisation of cooperative banks would be speeded up and village cooperative societies will introduce more facilities for their members and the public at large. Registrar of Cooperative Societies Niranjan Arya said disbursement of loans through mini-banks would enable the farmers to get the facility at their nearest place. He called upon the cooperative banks to enhance their guarantee money and launch innovative ventures for the benefit of their customers. Apex Bank Managing Director R. C. S. Jodha provided details of action taken by the 29 cooperative banks to achieve targets.