Relief for farmers, credit limit for crop loan increased

He said that the Central Cooperative Banks have advanced loans amounting to Rs 20,133 crore from March 2005 to August 2008.

The government has already reduced the rate of interest on crop loans from 11 to seven per cent, he added. He said the Haryana Cooperative Societies Act, 1984, has been amended by deleting provisions of coercive methods of recoveries as arrears of land revenue. The revolving cash credit limit has also been increased from 75 per cent to 90 per cent to provide more flexibility to the farmers.

He said that under the Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme-2008 of the Central government, Rs 827.19 crore have been waived thus benefiting over 2.60 lakh marginal and small farmers and an additional relief of Rs 343.16 crore has also been given to more than two lakh big farmers in the state.

A relief of two per cent has been provided to the members of cooperative societies under timely payment incentive scheme.

He said under recovery linked incentive scheme for members of PACS implemented by Central Cooperative Banks, an interest relief of Rs 177.74 crore has been provided to more than 2.58 lakh farmers in the state.