By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, April 14, 2016 : The Odisha government has asked Collectors of all the districts to give priority to financing pulses, oil seed, potato and other cash crops.

The state government has made a crop loan target of Rs 6,000 crore for the ensuing Kharif season.

In a letter to the collectors, the cooperation department said, “Financing of remunerative commercial crops and seasonal horticulture crops for which market is really available should be given priority and a special drive may be taken for the purpose.”

Among other things the department has asked collectors to ensure adequate availability of fertilisers to the farmers, sensitization of the primary agriculture credit societies (PACS) to stock pile adequate quantities of fertilisers in their go downs sufficiently.

“Government has provided a corpus fund of Rs 75 crores to MARKFED to ensure timely pre-positioning and supply of fertilisers,” it said.

Besides, it has asked the concerned authorities to extend credit facilities to SHGs, including women’s groups.

“Short term credit facility needs to be extended to Self Help Groups including women’s groups, tenant farmers and oral lessees. Organisation and credit linkage of Joint Liability Groups should be encouraged for agricultural and allied agricultural operations following the guidelines issued by NABARD,” the letter read.

During last Kharif season, as against the target of crop loan dispensation of Rs 5500 crore, cooperatives had disbursed Rs 5077.41 crore to 17,34,847 farmers while Commercial Banks, including Regional Rural Banks had financed Rs 2955.29 crore to 5,04,569 farmers.