Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik provided crop loan interest subvention worth Rs 441.76 crore to more than 35 lakh farmers in the second phase for the financial year 2022-23 in a programme organized at the Lok Seva Bhawan here on Monday.
All the Cooperative Banks and 2409 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) of the State were given the interest subvention.
In the first phase, interest subvention of Rs. 415.17 crores was given. With this, the farmers received Rs 856.99 crore interest subvention for the year 2022-23. It is worth noting that farmers do not have to pay any interest for crop loans up to one lakh rupees. Out of 35 lakh farmers, 30 lakh are small and marginal farmers.
Addressing the farmers on the occasion, the Chief Minister said that agriculture is the soul of our economy and the foundation of development. The farmers, women and youths are the drivers of new Odisha and empowered Odisha. So emphasis has been given for their empowerment, the CM said.
The Chief Minister also said that a special budget has been made to empower the farmers. Interest-free agricultural loan up to one lakh rupees is being provided to the farmers. KALIA scholarship is provided for the welfare of the farmers’ families.
The Chief Minister expressed his happiness that Kiran Sahu, who belongs to a farmer’s family in Ganjam district, has received a scholarship to study at Berhampur Medical College.
The Chief Minister said that Odisha is the first State to provide interest-free loans to farmers and also the first State to implement welfare schemes like KALIA.
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