Orissa sets ambitious target for khariff production

Bhubaneswar, Apr 23 (UNI) Considering a sharp rise in the agriculturAL production, the Orissa government has decided to launch an ambitious target of providing agricultural loans to the tune of Rs 1500 crores to the farmers to boost khariff production.

Official sources said here today that the loan would boost agriculture in the state and increase Kharif production in 2006.

The Seasonal Agricultural Operation (SAO) of Rabi and Kharif for 2005-06, however, ended with a spectacular performance.

The Government had provided agricultural loans to the tune of Rs 1381.15 crore through co-operative financing institutions during the last financial year, which was an all time record.

This led to a 44 per cent growth over last year's performance and in terms of farmer member coverage, it covered nearly 12.66 lakh farmers, registering 28 per cent growth.

Sources said significant progress had been made in meeting agricultural credit needs of the 'farmers in arrears' and 'farmers in distress,' whose outstanding loans were rescheduled. As a result 4,88,217 such farmers became eligible to avail agricultural loans .

This innovative step was taken by the department to extend agricultural credit to the extent of Rs 3.20 crore to 10,425 members of 1057 Self-Help Groups.

UNI DP JYN ARB HT1955