Kohima, March 22 (MExN): The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has projected an overall credit potential of Rs. 1414.81 crore under Priority Sector for Nagaland for 2018-19.
The projection was made in the State Focus Paper for Nagaland launched by T. Imkonglemba Ao, IAS, Principal Secretary and Agriculture Production Commissioner (APC) to the Govt. of Nagaland at the annual State Credit Seminar of NABARD for 2018-19 held on March 21 at Hotel Japfu, Kohima.
While launching the State Focus Paper 2018-19, the APC expressed his appreciation to NABARD for preparing the State Focus Paper and organizing the Seminar where various stakeholders can come and deliberate on the credit potentials for the State.
Emphasizing on the importance of Soil Health Card, KCC, Cluster Approach and Capital Formation for sustainable development of agriculture and allied sector, the APC viewed that Nagaland has achieved sustainability in all food crops, except rice – which is the staple food of the State.
In this connection, he welcomed the bankers to work in partnership with officials of the line departments so as to increase the credit flow to Priority Sector and also in increasing the farmers’ income.
General Manager, NABARD, S K Dhumal, in his address explained the process of preparation of district level potential linked credit plans (PLPs), State level credit potentials and the significance of the document in credit planning of the State.
He presented the State Focus Paper for 2018-19 which envisages a potential credit outlay of Rs. 1414.81 crore under Priority Sector in the State for 2018-19. He highlighted the developmental financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 812.85 crore provided by NABARD to the State Government for infrastructure development under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
Further, during the current year, he stated that under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC), set up under the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, GoI, NABARD as the National Implementing Entity (NIE) facilitated the sanction of a project on “Gene Pool Conservation of Indigenous Rice Varieties under Traditional Integrated Rotational Farming System (Jhum Optimisation) for Promoting Livelihood and Food Security as Climate Change Adaptation Strategy in Nagaland” at a total cost of Rs.2466.69 lakh. This is the first project sanctioned to Nagaland under NAFCC. Abhishek Kumar Sinha, AGM, Reserve Bank of India, Guwahati urged the banks and other stakeholders to refer to the credit plan document prepared by NABARD and play a proactive role in achieving the credit targets.
Tiakala Ao, Deputy General Manager, NABARD made a PowerPoint presentation on the sectoral projections for the FY 2018-19, which was followed by a presentation on “Infrastructure Development through RIDF” by Evan T Munsong, Manager, NABARD.
During the Seminar, Imsunaro, Assistant Manager, NABARD made a presentation on NABARD’s developmental interventions in the districts and the development initiatives taken up in partnership with NABARD was shared by two NGOs viz., Chakhesang Women Welfare Society (CWWS), Pfutsero and Rongmei Baptist Association Nagaland, Jalukie.
Paogin Haokip, AGM & Convener, State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC), besides Senior Bank Managers, including Managing Director of Nagaland State Cooperative Band (NStCB) and Chairman of Nagaland Rural Bank (NRB) also participated in the Seminar.
The Seminar also saw participation from senior level State Govt. officials of the Departments of Finance, Planning & Coordination, Agriculture, Soil & Water Conservation, Horticulture, Land Resources, Forest, Fisheries, Irrigation & Flood Control, Cooperation, Industries & Commerce, etc., Deputy Director of Ministry of MSME, GoI and NGOs.
