Microcredit movement torpid for non-availability of reputed NGO's

Panaji, July 11 (UNI) Micro credit movement in Goa has become torpid owing to non-availibility of reputed non-governmental organisations.

''The movement, which had gained momentum in the recent past, is still not catching up with the rest of the country mainly due to non-availability of reputed NGOs,'' says National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) general manager in charge of Goa, Mr P Silveraj.

Interacting with media persons here today on the eve of NABARD's silver jubilee celebrations, Mr Silveraj said there are 1020 credit-linked self-help groups out of a total 2341 in the state now as against five in 1999, availing a cumulative bank loan of over Rs 5 crore.

Lack of awareness among the farmers, he said, had also resulted in lower distribution of Kisan Credit Cards in the state among farmers even as more than 82 per cent of the landholdings are less than one hectare.

About 6000 Kisan Credit Cards and 510 Swarojgar Credit Cards had been distributed in the state so far.

At the same time, there were only 26 functioning Farmers' Clubs promoted by banks with the NABARD financial support, he said.

The NABARD, since inception, has disbursed Rs 173 crore under investment credit for agriculture and rural non-farm sector activities to commercial banks and the Goa State Cooperative Bank till March 2007 end.

As much as 72 per cent of the refinance was for non-farm sector covering small scale industries, rural housing and small road transport operators.

Under agriculture sector, the fisheries, dairy development, plantations/horticulture and land development sectors got the maximum benefit.

At the same time, the NABARD, he said, had financed 154 projects under irrigation, roads and bridges and rural drinking water supply involving Rs 67 crores under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to the state government.

But the government has completed 141 projects while dropping the remaining 13 schemes due to various reasons. The investments had generated an estimated non-recurring employment of 133.54 lakh man-days and an additional job potential for 5284 people per annum, Mr Silveraj said.

Interestingly, the NABARD has identified Barcem village in Quepem taluk of South Goa for integrated development in collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendra, banks, NGOs and other development agencies in the silver jubilee year.

Meanwhile, the bank's consultancy wing NABCONS has successfully accomplished two assignments for the state. One was a project report on cashew development in Goa for setting up of an Agro Economic Zone for cashew and the other for developing suitable cropping pattern under the Tillari Irrigation Project.

UNI