Bhubaneswar, April 24 : An interest subvention of Rs 441.76 crore on farm loans was disbursed by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday which will benefit nearly 35 lakh farmers of whom 30 lakhs are small and marginal farmers.
This was the second phase of farm loan interest subvention for the year 2022-23 for the farmers in the state.
The government had so far provided Rs 856.99 crore as interest subvention during 2022-23 as earlier Rs 415.17 crore interest subvention was provided to the farmers in the first phase.
All the cooperative banks and 2,409 primary agricultural cooperative societies of the state were provided with the farm loan concession.
Addressing the farmers through video conferencing, Patnaik claimed that Odisha is the first state to provide interest-free loans to farmers who will have to pay no interest on availing crop loans up to Rs 1 lakh.
Describing the farmers as the pride of Odisha, the Chief Minister said the state has emerged as a leading state in the agriculture field only due to hard work and strong determination of the farmers.
Patnaik further said a special budget on Agriculture has been made to strengthen the farm sector and described the farmers as the transporter of the New Odisha and Strong Odisha.
The Chief Minister said, about 60 per cent of the crop credit is being provided by the cooperative sector alone in the state, further strengthening the cooperative movement.
State Cooperative minister Atanu Sabya sachi Nayak said the state government under the leadership of the Chief Minister, is committed for the wellbeing of the farmers as a result Odisha had become a food surplus state.(UNI)