The State Bank of India (SBI) will provide ₹1,600 crore as agriculture loan to farmers in Kerala.
This was among the decisions taken at a meeting between top SBI officials and Agriculture Minister V.S. Sunil Kumar here on Wednesday. Briefing presspersons after the meeting, Mr. Sunil Kumar said the SBI would write off those agriculture loans which became non-performing assets (NPAs) in 2016, provided the farmer paid 50% of the outstanding amount.
This targeted one-time settlement would benefit 36,000 farmers in the State. Thirty days after the settlement, the SBI would give loans to the very same farmers. The settlement is expected to cost the SBI ₹275 to ₹300 crore.
It was also decided that the SBI would open a web portal for farmers to interact directly with the bank. This is to address complaints that the SBI was not disbursing adequate agriculture loans. It was decided that the SBI would broadbase the issue of Kisan Credit Cards. It was also decided that loans up to ₹3 lakh would be given for vegetable farming at an interest rate of 4%. The SBI team was led by Chief General Manager S. Adikesavan.
The Department of Agriculture would open a call centre for farmers to air their grievances and to seek expert help on farming-related issues. The call centre would be inaugurated on November 1. On every first Wednesday from 5.30 p.m., the Agriculture Minister would be available for direct talks with farmers. A team of experts from the KAU would also be available to give assistance to farmers, he said.
The department would, in the next two days, issue appointment orders for 217 agriculture officers. This was for the first time that this many number of officers were being appointed at one go, he added.
