The State level bankers’ committee on Thursday finalised a credit plan of Rs 4,60,881 crore for 2021-22 for Maharashtra against Rs 4,74,511 crore for 2020-21. Of this, the committee has earmarked Rs 1,18,720 crore for the agriculture sector lending with a crop loan target of Rs 60,860 crore for 69.06 lakh farmers. This is for the first time the committee has set the target of farmers which should be provided crop loans.
The banks are expected to provide Rs 2,49,139 crore for micro, small and medium enterprises while Rs 90,322 crore for other priority groups.
There are 1.52 crore farmers with bank accounts and of the 209 lakh hectare under cultivation, nearly 141 lakh hectare (67%) is under Kharif crops.
Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray in his address called upon banks to expeditiously approve proposals for agriculture loans through a one-stop-shop scheme as done in the industry under the Ease of Doing Business. He said under the Vikel Te Pikel (what you grow to be sold) initiative the government has laid emphasis on the overall development of the agriculture sector. The government is focusing on crop planning, market research, infrastructure development, agro-processing industries and value addition.
According to the committee, the overall achievement by banks in the state is 77% at Rs 47,972 crore as on March 31, 2021, of the target Rs 62,459 crore, showing 68% positive growth. District Central Cooperative Bank and Regional Rural Banks have shown better performance at 97% and 94% respectively of the annual target.
Under the Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Karjmukti Yojana, 2019, about 31.51 lakh farmers have benefited amounting Rs 20,109 crore as of May 31, 2021. Of the 31.51 lakh farmers, about 19.68 lakh farmers are given fresh assistance of Rs 13,152 crore (63%).
