The Hindu Business Line : `1 million farmers given loans in AP'

More than a million farmers have been given loans during the past two years in Andhra Pradesh, after the Congress Government assumed charge, according to Mr K. Lakshminarayana, State Co-operation and Transport Minister.

At a regional co-operative convention here on Thursday, the Minister said the commercial banks and the co-operatives had increased the quantum of lending to the agricultural sector and "more than 10 lakh new farmers have been given loans.''

During the current crop year (2006-07 kharif and rabi), the co-operatives had been set a loan target of Rs 3,350 crore. "The disbursement during 2004-05 was Rs 1,650 crore and Rs. 2,700 crore during 2005-06. Thus, we would be doubling the co-operative credit in two years,'' he said.

He urged the primary co-operatives to take up various income-generating activities and mould themselves into vibrant agents of change in rural areas. "Loan disbursement should not be the sole activity of a PACS. It should aim at supplying all farm inputs, and even essentials and consumer goods, to farmers. Like the self-help groups, they should play a larger role,'' he said.

He said the State Government had infused Rs 216 crore as share capital to revive the sick co-operatives in the State, "which is unprecedented in any State.''

Markfed turnover up

Mr Krishna Babu, Managing Director of AP Markfed, said the turnover of the agency had crossed Rs 500 crores for the first time in its history this year and "we want it to touch the Rs 1,000-crore mark in three years.''

He said the self-help groups of women in the State had procured maize worth Rs 118 crore during 2005-06, meeting the quality requirements.

"It is a remarkable achievement and there is no reason why the primary co-operatives cannot emulate the SHGs in this respect and boost their revenues,'' he remarked.

Mr Veerabhadraiah, the Managing Director of APCOB, also spoke.

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