There's a need to increase the number of farmers getting bank loans, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said here today.
"There's a need to increase number of farmers getting loan, rather than credit amount. Focus should be on number of beneficiaries instead of amount," he said.
Fadnavis was speaking at the 131st meeting of State Level Bankers' Committee (SLBC), Maharashtra State.
"It is high time that we give a serious and deep thought on investment credit to bring more positive change in agriculture," the Chief Minister said.
"For betterment in agriculture, we need to bring atleast 80 per cent of the farmers into the institutional credit net and government is serious about this," he said.
"With the forecast of good monsoon this time, it is an opportunity to work unitedly to make available money in hands of farmers," Fadnavis added.
While appreciating role of SLBC, Fadnavis appealed for working on micro indicators for agricultural sector to boost overall economy.
Representatives of Reserve Bank of India, NABARD, public sector and commercial banks attended the meeting.
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Fadnavis also said with the forecast of good monsoon this time, it is an opportunity to work unitedly and make available money into the hands of the farmers.
Appreciating the role of SLBC, the Chief Minister appealed them for working on micro indicators for agricultural sector to boost overall economy.
He said the past year has been particularly bad not just for the farmers, but even the economy of the state.
"The agriculture sector contributes around 10-11 per cent in the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) but, around 45-50 per cent of the population is dependent upon it. The share of agriculture in GSDP needs to be increased," he added.
"Other sectors in the state too are getting affected by the negative trend in agriculture and credits available to those sectors too have come down," Fadnavis said.
Maharashtra Ministers Chandrakantdada Patil, Dadaji Bhuse were also present for the meeting.
