NABARD to introduce 'community farming'

Hyderabad, Apr 3 (UNI) The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) is planning to introduce 'community farming' by consolidating the small land holdings, involving small and marginal farmers in Andhra Pradesh, Chief General Manager S R Aluru today said.

Addressing a press conference here, he said the objective of the scheme was to increase the per capita income of the small farmers who were not able to support their family with their present level of income.

The scheme would allow the farmers to segregate the agricultural work among themselves and involve them in agricultural allied activities like establishment of diary farms and setting up of agro processing production centres.

The scheme would be taken up on pilot basis this year and implemented after getting positive results, he said, adding, the land ownership of the farmers would not be changed and they would be the partners of the new farming system.

The NABARD would support the farmers in funding and linking them with the markets to sell the products, he said, adding that the minimum requirement of land to take up this project was 1,000 acres of agricultural land.

The NGOs and farmers participation were important to make success of the new scheme, he added.

Referring to the revitalisation of the Primary Agricultural Cooperative Societies (PACS) in the state, he said the bank had provided Rs 502.29 crore to 1,506 PACS with more than 50 per cent recovery in first phase.

Around Rs 653 crore was given to 617 PACS with 30 to 50 per cent recovery in the second phase, he said.

While, in third phase, the financial package for the PACS with less than 30 per cent recovery level was under finalisation, he added.

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