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Our Bureau

Thiruvananthapuram , Jan. 13

THE National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has prepared a Rs 25,653-crore potential linked credit plan for the priority sector in Kerala in 2006-07.

The bank, in its State Focus Paper for the year, has projected credit flow of Rs 9,502 crore to the agriculture and allied activities, Rs 4,296 crore to non-farm sector and Rs 11,855 crore to the services sector. For the current year, the credit flow from banks to the priority sector is expected to be Rs 20,286 crore.

The estimated crop loan potential for seasonal agricultural operations for 2006-07 is Rs 7,671 crore. The major action points for increasing crop loan during the year include increasing the credit flow for agriculture by cooperative banks/primary agriculture cooperative societies; popularisation of organic farming; and ensuring easy availability of quality/certified seeds and planting material.

In the area of minor irrigation, the paper says that the State's overall ground water development by 2004 was 46.87 per cent. Out of the total 151 blocks, five blocks were over-exploited, 15 blocks were in critical stage and 30 blocks were in semi-critical stage.

The situation calls for implementation of projects for rainwater harvesting, expediting energisation of pumpsets and popularisation of micro irrigation schemes. There is also immense scope for mini lift irrigation schemes in the State. The potential credit requirement for minor irrigation sector in 2006-07 is Rs 199.20 crore.

Farm mechanisation, the paper notes, is important for better utilisation of resources, for increasing the level of production and productivity and for improving labour efficiency. The major action points identified for the year include motivation of farmers to adopt group farming approach and to go for new and improved machines. The potential credit need is put at Rs 41.59 crore.

The paper points out that plantation and horticulture crops have a major stake in the State's economy as these constitute 80 per cent of the total cropped area. During 2006-07, the focus should be on encouragement of production of export quality varieties; ensuring availability of certified planting material; systematic re-plantation of old plantations; and evolving of disease-resistant pepper varieties. The potential credit requirement is projected at Rs 828.81 crore.

In the area of animal husbandry, the measures called for during the year include implementation of programmes for fodder production to meet the shortage of green fodder; identification of elite cows through pedigree record keeping; expansion of backyard poultry units; and strengthening of cattle breeding farms. The credit potential assessed for 2006-07 in this sector is Rs 312.96 crore.

The Nabard paper also underlines the contribution of the fisheries sector to the State's economy and the employment front. The major action points for the sector include establishment of cold storage chain; augmentation of facilities at landing centres and processing units; more hatcheries for seed materials; and innovative schemes such as crab/oyster/mussel culture and ornamental fisheries. The credit potential for the sector is estimated at Rs 67.65 crore.

The paper lays emphasis on the non-farm sector also for ensuring rural prosperity and says there is immense scope in the State in sectors such as handloom, coir, tourism and information technology. The recent initiatives of the State Government, particularly the policy on industries and information technology, are expected to accelerate the industrial growth of the State.

The major action plans needed for the non-farm sector in 2006-07 include improvement in the functioning of weavers/coir societies; promotion of tourism-related activities; improving the training facilities for skill upgradation; setting up of more industrial estates with captive power generation; and establishment of common facility centres. The total credit requirement for these is put at Rs 4,296.44 crore.

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