JOIN US'Bankers need farmers' co-operation'
Syndicate Bank Deputy General Manager J S Sheony has said that the bankers are ready to help the farmers. The banks need the coopeartion of the farmers, when the restructuring of the loans are announced by the RBI.
Speaking at district-level review committee meeting for banking development here on Friday, he said that a few farmers are not cooperating with the bankers and are pursuading other farmers not to sign the restructuring documents. If the farmers fail to cooperate with the bankers, then it would be difficult to boost agriculture.
He said that banking sector in DK witnessed business growth of 27 per cent, thus achieving a level of Rs 34,645 crore on June 30. Deposits stood at Rs 22,874 crore and advances at Rs 11,771 crore. Credit deposit ratio of the district showed a declining trend for the past three years.
He said banks in Dakshina Kannada have crossed business level of Rs 34,600 crore as on June 30.
Complementing the rural branches for their performance, Shenoy suggested that there is a need to improve CD ratio.
Lead district Chief Manager Hemanth Bhide said that under farm sector disbursement, Rs 406 crore has been disbursed against the target of Rs 489 crore; Under micro and small enterprises, the disbursement was Rs 95 crore against the target of Rs 99 crore; Under tertiary sector, which includes education and housing, the disbursement was Rs 213 crore.
He said that department of handloom and textiles has sponsored 157 applications for weavers’ credit card to various branches. The progress was low because applicants are not engaged in weaving.
Bhide said that to promote stall fed goat farming in the district on a major scale, three entrepreneurs have come forward to establish medium size units with the help of banks funding the projects.
He said that 260 villages are unbanked in the district. Banking services has already been provided to all 170 unbanked villages with above 2000 population through business correspondents. Banking service will be provided to all the 36 unbanked villages in the population range of 1,600 — 2000 by March 31, 2013. All 38 unbanked villages with a population of 1000 and 1,599 will be provided with the service by March 31, 2014.
Representative from RBI from Bangalore Vijayakumar said that decline trend in CD ratio is a worrisome factor as bankers have not achieved even 60 per cent, the bench mark prescribed by the RBI. Banks with less than 60 per cent CD ratio were advised to accelerate lending.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Dr K N Vijayaprakash said that pendency level is high under Vajapayee Housing Scheme. He requsted the officers to monitor the progress and ensure that credit decisions on applications are taken by branches within 15 days. He called upon the entrepreneurs to disseminate knowledge of goat farming to interested farmers.
Mumtaz Hussain of Kepu, Shiva Kumar Pailoor of Ajjibettu, and Keshava Gowda of Bajathur were felicitated for taking up goat farming.
Zilla Panchayat also felicitated Bhide who will be retiring by this month of end. NABARD AGM Prasad Rao was present.