JOIN USIf the banks abide by the advise of Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, the eponymous ‘Nanjangud Rasabale’ may see a push, resulting in the increase in cultivation of the plantain. The geographical indicator (GI) tagged fruit, restricted to Nanjangud in the district, is already under extinction.
Following the release of the district credit plan for the year 2015-16, the Deputy Commissioner asked the banks to encourage cultivation of ‘Nanjangud Rasabale’, as the area of cultivation is shrinking with every passing day. Tourism related activities should also be encouraged, considering the potential of the district, she added.
Mysuru and Kodagu MP Prathap Simha advised the banks to give priority to sheep rearing and other animal husbandry related activities, dry farming and alternative crops to tobacco, besides encouraging self-employment, by advancing loans to create job opportunities.
Eligible persons for loans in rural areas should be given more importance, the MP suggested.
Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer P A Gopal said, dry farming and alternative crops to tobacco should be encouraged along with drinking water supply by earmarking funds under the credit plan.
The district credit plan for Rs 6,560.5 crore for the financial year 2015-16 was launched, with thrust on advancing more loans for agriculture, horticulture, minor irrigation and animal husbandry related activities.
Chief Manager of State Bank of Mysore, Lead Bank for the district, K Shivalingaiah said, while Rs 5,183.80 crore has been set aside for priority sector, Rs 1,276.70 crore is earmarked for non-priority sector. Compared to previous fiscal, it is planned to advance loan of over Rs 729.40 crore for priority sector and Rs 156.20 crore for non-priority sector.
Shivalingaiah said, “For crop loan alone Rs 1,822.97 crore has been set aside, while for government sector, commercial banks aim to disburse loan to the tune of Rs 3,624.60 crore and Rs 625.86 crore under private sector, Rs 560.74 crore for regional rural banks, Rs 43.20 crore for Karnataka State Finance Corporation (KSFC) and Rs 375 crore for
government sponsored schemes.
For minor irrigation, it is planned to advance loans up to Rs 3,900 lakh, followed by Rs 9,800 lakh for land development, Rs 7,500 lakh for agriculture equipment, Rs 1,000 lakh for horticulture, Rs 10,500 lakh for animal husbandry, Rs 7,000 lakh for poultry farming, Rs 2,000 lakh for other animal husbandry activities, Rs 600 lakh for fisheries and Rs 500 lakh for afforestation and other farming activities totalling Rs 67,675 lakh.
DH News Service