Repayment of crop loan — Samiti backs `Nagpur pattern’

The Nagpur Bank’s suggestion was appreciated by Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh. During his visits to the region earlier this year, he had accepted in principle the proposal to implement the Nagpur pattern to the entire region.

Referring to the Chief Minister’s assurance, the samiti has demanded that an early decision should be taken by the state government to fulfill the assurance in the interest of cotton growers of Vidarbha region.

According to a samiti estimate, the total pending crop loan extended by District Cooperative banks in Vidarbha region to about 32 lakh farmers and the interest on the loan amount is about Rs 1360. If calculated on percapita basis, it comes to about Rs 4050 per head. It should be recovered in ten equal installments of Rs 405 each by applying the Nagpur pattern, the samiti demanded.

In a statement, samiti leaders Kishore Tiwari and Mohan Jadhav have said that most farmers would be willing to repay the loan if the state extends a helping hand by implementing the Nagpur pattern. It will also enable the district banks to recover the huge outstanding amount and enable farmers to seek fresh loan. Otherwise the cotton growers will be forced to turn to moneylenders for loan, who charge exorbitant interest.

Stating that a large number of cotton growers have already become victims of money lenders, the samiti has announced that a convention of cotton growers will be held at Ghatanji in Yavatmal district on July 11 to chalk out an agitation plan on this issue.