TURA: The much touted National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development’s (NABARD) Kisan Credit Card Scheme appears to have little or no takers among the farming community, particularly of East Garo Hills, bringing to light the poor interaction between farmers and NABARD officials. A highly published Kisan Scheme of the Prime Minister was also found to have failed to reach the farming sector.
The KCC is a credit scheme introduced by Indian banks through NABARD to provide term loans and agricultural needs to farmers.
A farmer’s interactive programme was organised for over 350 farmers from 50 interior villages under Songsak C&RD on Wednesday revealed the state of affairs with the KCC scheme in the region.
EGH Deputy Commissioner, Swapnil Tembe who attended the programme interacted with farmers and enquired about the number of farmers who received benefit under the PM KISAN programme. The DC was shocked to know that none of the farmers received benefit from the scheme prompting him to direct the Agriculture Officer to look into the matter and ensure that they are made eligible to receive benefit from it.
It was further found that none among the nearly 350 farmers present had ever availed from NABARD’s KCC Scheme.
Appreciating Bakdil for bringing up the farmers training school under Songsak Block, Swapnil said that the newly functioning Krishi Vigyan Kendra, a district level institution engaged in transfer of latest agricultural technologies to the farmers, would be able to provide assistance to farmers of the region in a big way.
He also exhorted the farmers to make use of SHGs and farmers’ market that is set up in Williamnagar and called upon Bakdil to provide the handholding support for linking SHGs with the newly established market.
Raising awareness about the importance of green vegetables in children’s diet, Tembe said that consumption of vegetables has been linked to brain development of children. He called upon Bakdil and farmers to collaborate and ensure the increase in vegetable production.
The District Development Manager of NABARD spoke about financial inclusion, doubling farmers income by 2022 and especially use of KCC. She also harped on the need for credit linkage for SHGs because Bakdil is implementing one SHG formation project in Songsak Block.
The Block Development Officer of Songsak Development Block exhorted the farmers to form SHGs as they are a platform for socio economic well being .
Taking part in the deliberations, the District Agriculture and Famers Welfare Officer spoke about improving farming through second cultivation of paddy for which he said that traditional varieties cannot be used except for high yielding variety. He said the department also has scheme for subsidised power tiller supply and almost Rs 90000 is available as subsidy. He requested the farmers to submit the list without any further time loss so that seeds etc can be arranged for the farmers.
The DPM, DRDA, Williamnagar spoke about the importance of water conservation under Jal Shakti Ahiyan.
Others present include the Block Development officer, District Development Manager, NABARD officials, District Agriculture And Farmers Welfare Officer, District Program Manager of DRDA, BAKDIL NGO and representatives from IIM Bangalore.
