Crop loan to the tune of ₹8,000 crore will be extended to farmers during 2018-19, according to Minister for Cooperation Sellur K. Raju.
Chairing a review meeting on disbursement of crop loan to farmers of eight districts, including Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam, Mr. Raju said the target was ₹1,000 crore more than last year.
Out of ₹8,000 crore, a sum of ₹414 crore had been disbursed to 61,851 farmers so far.
In delta districts, ₹21,57 crore had been disbursed. It was estimated that 25,568 metric tonnes of fertilizers would be required to raise paddy during kuruvai season in delta districts.
The State government had already stocked 32,837 metric tonnes.
Arrangements would be made to procure additional quantity, if necessary.
Mr. Raju pointed out that the State government had announced a ₹115-crore kuruvai package as an incentive to delta farmersto opt for short- and medium-term varieties by using certified seeds. The farmers should make use of the package. The cooperative department had a stock of 105 metric tonne of paddy seeds in delta districts.
Earlier, speaking to reporters after opening the 63rd branch of Tiruchi District Central Cooperative Bank at Thendral Nagar, Mr. Raju said that the total number of branches of Central Cooperative Banks in the State had now gone up to 848. Since 2011, 104 branches were established in different parts of the State. To a question on the alleged malpractices and frauds in the cooperative department, the Minister said that a vigilance committee had been formed to inquire into the allegations.
All branches of cooperative banks had been brought under Core Banking Solution (CBS).
While thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami for choosing Thoppur in Madurai for setting up the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Mr. Raju said the location was ideal for the people of several districts in the State and Kerala to make use of the hospital.
Minister for Tourism Vellamandi N. Natarajan, Minister for Backward Classes and Minority Welfare S. Valarmathi, Collector K. Rajamani and officials of cooperative department and joint registrars and managing directors of cooperative banks in the delta region were among those who took part in the review meeting.
