NE BUSINESS BUREAU
HYDERABAD, APR 9
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has announced on Thursday that despite the world having been plagued with the COVID-19 pandemic for the entirety of the year, NABARD Andhra Pradesh Regional Office, given the silver lining provided by the agriculture sector in these bleak times, disbursed Rs 32,844 crore, up from Rs 27,992 crore the previous year – a growth of 17%, Sudhir Kumar Jannawar, CGM, NABARD’s Andhra Pradesh Regional Office, said.
NABARD in its State Focus Paper has assessed credit potential of Rs. 2.31 lakh crore for Andhra Pradesh under priority sectors for the year 2021-22, which was released on March 26 in the State Credit Seminar held at AP Secretariat.
Refinance to Rural Financial Institutions
Rs 22,065 crore was extended as refinance to the banks for crop production and other agricultural activities. Special Liquidity Fund of Rs 2,500 crore was provided to Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) and Rural Cooperative Banks (RCBs) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Rs 623 crore was also released directly to the RCBs for their multi-purpose credit requirements.
Support for Infrastructure Development
NABARD continues to play a significant role as a partner in the development initiatives of the State. In order to augment the resources of the State Government for rural infrastructure creation, Rs 1,794 crore was sanctioned under RIDF during the year and Rs 1,361 crore was released towards augmentation of basic infrastructure facility in 21,205 government schools under GoAP’s flagship Mana Badi Nadu Nedu scheme, construction and upgradation of 94 rural health centres and construction of 1,714 Anganwadis across the state.
To supplement the efforts of per drop more crop component of Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana, NABARD released Rs 616 crore under Micro Irrigation Fund (MIF).
Besides, NABARD sanctioned Rs 1,159 crore to AP Road Development Corporation (APRDC) and disbursed Rs 408 crore under NABARD Infrastructure Development Assistance (NIDA) for widening and strengthening of 233 rural roads. NABARD continued its support to the Chintalapudi lift irrigation project in West Godavari and Krishna districts and so far disbursed Rs 1,118 crore under NIDA against the sanctioned amount of ₹1,931 crore.
Support for Polavaram Irrigation Project
NABARD has sanctioned Rs 10,466 crore towards Polavaram Irrigation Project, against which Rs 9,897 crore has been disbursed so far to GoAP under Long Term Irrigation Fund (LTIF).
Atmanirbhar Bharat – Transformation of PACS as Multi Service Centres (MSC)
Under PACS as MSC Special Refinance Scheme, in synergy with Agriculture Infrastructure Fund (AIF) of GoI, NABARD sanctioned refinance of Rs 2,021 crore in respect of 2,587 PACS for establishing various agri-infrastructure facilities in convergence with Rythu Bharosa Kendra (RBK) scheme of GoAP.
Support to Federations for Procurment and Marketing
NABARD has supported AP State Civil Supplies Corporation Ltd. (APSCSCL) for procurement operations during 2020-21 with disbursement of Rs 7,100 crore for working capital requirements. AP State Seeds Development Corporation and AP MARKFED were also supported with disbursement of Rs 200 crore and Rs 172 crore respectively.
Special Schemes to Augment Credit Flow to Thrust areas
NABARD has also formulated concessional special refinance schemes for various purposes which include conversion of PACS as Multi Service Centres (MSCs), supporting beneficiaries in watershed and wadi project areas, promotion of WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene) activities and support for micro food processing units. To provide credit support to the farmers in watershed and Maa thota project areas, NABARD prepared banking plans to the tune of ₹132 crore and Rs 86 crore respectively.
Towards an Ecosystem to Promote Collectivization of Producers and Nurture Sustainable Collectives
In line with Government of India’s vision and State Government’s thrust on mitigating farmers’ issues, NABARD promoted and nurtured 293 Farmer Producer Organizations (FPOs) in Andhra Pradesh. These FPOs comprise of more than one lakh shareholding members, who are mostly small and marginal farmers. NABARD has also facilitated credit linkage of FPOs through its subsidiary NABKISAN Finance Ltd. and other financial institutions.
NABARD also facilitated aggregation of agricultural produce from FPO members and expanding of marketing avenues through market linkages, including through Kisan Rail. Besides, skill training on packaging of produce was also provided to ensure increase of shelf life of agricultural commodities, which will enable the FPOs to foray into agri exporting.
Livelihood Promotion, Skilling and Facilitating Technology Adoption
NABARD sanctioned four new Maa thota projects with grant assistance of Rs10.32 crore, which will benefit more than 2,000 tribal families and create sustainable livelihood opportunities. NABARD also sanctioned two new watershed projects and released grant of Rs 2.71 crore towards climate proofing and soil conservation activities. For undertaking promotion and developmental initiatives in the farm sector, NABARD provided grant support of Rs 73 lakh under its Farm Sector Promotional Fund for various farm sector activities, which included support for 8 innovative projects and exposure visits and capacity augmentation for farmers.
Under its support to development of Micro Enterprises, skilling rural youth and promotion of livelihoods, NABARD has supported more than 100 programmes aimed at benefitting 6,000 rural beneficiaries.
Geotagging of Agri Storage Infrastructure
NABARD, through its subsidiary NABCONS, embarked on the prestigious assignment of Geo-tagging of Agri Storage Infrastructure (ASI) in the entire country as envisaged by the GoI, with 3,994 ASIs geo-tagged in the state of Andhra Pradesh.
Support for Marketing
NABARD organized the 3rd edition of NABARD Crafts Mela at Vijayawada from 12 to 21 March 2021. Around 120 artisans, craftsmen and SHG women from across the country and all 13 districts of Andhra Pradesh exhibited handicrafts, handlooms and various other products in the mela.
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NABARD has been sanctioning rural haats, rural marts, promoting rural innovations and supporting artisans by conducting and sponsoring their participation in state/national level exhibitions/melas. Besides, two exhibitions were also sponsored in Srikakulam and Kadapa districts. As part of innovative marketing strategy, 10 Mobile Vans were sanctioned to FPOs for marketing of agricultural produce under Rural Mart Scheme.
Support for Microfinance and Formation, Nurturing and Credit Linkage of JLGs
NABARD is providing incentive for promotion and credit linkage of JLGs, which are composed of small and marginal farmers, as well as tenant farmers. NABARD sanctioned grant of Rs 4.21 crore and released Rs 2.87 crore to various agencies during the year for livelihood and micro enterprise development programmes, promotion and nurturing of JLGs and for capacity building of various stakeholders working in the micro finance sector. 103 sensitisation and capacity building programmes were also organised at district level for bankers, NGO field workers, SHG leaders and various stakeholders to give a thrust to the micro finance sector.
