Abhimanyu asks banks to be sensitive to farmers’ issues

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 20

Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu today urged the bankers to be sensitive towards issues such as timely provision of collateral and credit to the farmers, skewed farming practices and development of farming skills. 

Speaking at a seminar on ‘Doubling of Farmers’ Income by 2022’ organised by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) here today, Capt Abhimany said audit should be carried out to ensure proper utilisation of loans procured by the farmers.

Highlighting that doubling the income of the farmers in five years would mean an annual increase of 20 per cent, he said this could be achieved through diversification.

He also urged all the stakeholders to work collectively to sensitise the farmers on the benefits of schemes being implemented for their welfare by the central and the state governments.

He said a host of initiatives had been taken to achieve the objective of doubling the income of the farmers by 2022, as set in the Union Budget 2016-17. These included the dedicated long-term irrigation fund Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY), launch of electronic national agriculture market e-NAM, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) and Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY).