JAIPUR: The State credit seminar organised by NABARD here has assessed a credit potential of Rs.17,592 crores for Rajasthan for the year 2007-08. The projected potential, based on NABARD's district level PLPs (potential linked plans) shows an increase of 26.11 per cent over the previous year's credit plan.

The seminar, presided over by NABARD Executive Director S. S. Acharya, lauded the role of banks in Rajasthan in the credit sector, especially in the Kisan Credit Card Scheme and other farm credits. B. P. Vijayendra and G. C. Sethy, Regional Director and General Manager respectively of the Reserve Bank of India, senior bureaucrats and representatives of all major banks were present.

Mr. Acharya, who released the State Focus Paper for 2007-08 on the occasion, said the bankers and the Government machinery should ensure adequate extension services for increasing productivity as well as income levels of farmers. The feedback from the farmers indicated that the benefits of research in the laboratories were yet to reach the fields, he noted.

The sector-wise presentations put the allocation for crop loans at Rs.9,162 crores, term loans at Rs.2,765 crores, Rs.1,786 crores for non-farm sector, Rs.218 crores for SHG bank linkage programme and Rs.3,661 crore for other priority sectors.

It was decided at the seminar that agro-processing, organic farming, agri-exports, medicinal plants and micro irrigation systems would continue to remain the thrust areas.

Significant thrust

The State had been according significant thrust to development of infrastructure in both urban and rural areas. A normative allocation of Rs.724 crores from NABARD under Rural Infrastructure Development Finance was being put to use in construction of rural roads, irrigation structures, water harvesting structures, watersheds, bridges, primary schools, water supply projects and knowledge centres, the seminar noted.

Considering the huge potential of non-farm sector (NFS) in the State and the guidelines of the Union Government to double credit to small and medium enterprises by 2010, the seminar envisaged a credit flow to the tune of Rs.1,786 crores to this sector.

The credit plan has given due focus to horticulture and the dairy sector to enhance employment generation and diversification of agricultural activities and also for absorbing the surplus labour. The credit plan has a provision of Rs.79 crores for horticulture and related areas such as bio-fuel, promotion of medicinal plants and Rs.393 crores for dairy sector.

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