Farmers are not getting the kharif season loan in Odisha. Though the chief minister had declared and avail fund in the budget, still the drought affected farmers of the state are not getting crop loan from the Co-operative Society. The state government has yet not circulated notice to the banks. That’s why the banks are not able to advances loan to the farmers in the kharif season.
According to the information, in the last kharif season, more than 29 thousands villages in 233 blocks in 27 districts have been affected by drought. The state government had declared drought package for the drought affected farmers on October 14th 2015. The chief minister had declared to provide 227.38 crore tax subsidy and input subsidy of 1000 crore. He had also declared to change the kharif loan to 3 years loan.
To provide the subsidy to the farmers, fund was allocated in the budget for the year 2016-17. The kharif loan of the farmers of the drought affected area was converted into loan for 3 years. The Managing Director, Cooperative Banks circulated to all the Secretary of the cooperative banks on 27th May 2016 and notices regarding the same was circulated on June 18th 2016 to the Directors.
But the Additional Registrar, Cooperative Banks wrote to all the Cooperative Banks to provide loans considering the eligibility of the farmers. After this letter the declaration of the CM become just a declaration only. The cooperative banks have not received any letter from the government to convert the loans to 3 years loan. According to the declaration, farmers who have taken loan less than 50 thousands can be eligible to take loan this year again. But those farmers who could not pay back the loan are now in distress.
As per the information the cooperative bank has targeted to provide loan of 6000 crore in 2016-17. But till date it has availed only 26% of the targeted loan through 2705 societies and 17 banks. In the last year, 17 lakh 34 thousand 847 farmers were provided loan amounting 5057 crore 41 lakh out of the targeted 5500 crore.