NABARD can play a vital role to rejuvenate Agriculture sector in Arunachal Pradesh – Chowna Mein
Rural population of Arunachal Pradesh depend on agriculture & allied sector for their livelihood, this sector needs rejuvenation where NABARD can play a vital role-said Chowna Mein, Dy CM. Arunachal Pradesh.
Mumbai
In the sideline of the ideological training of the BJP Legislators at Mumbai, Deputy Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Chowna Mein accompanied by MLA Namsai, Chau Zingnu Namchoom visited and had a discussion with Heads of various policy & business departments of National Bank for Agriculture & Rural Development (NABARD) in its Head Office at Mumbai today.
In the meeting, Mein while citing that large sections of rural population depend on agriculture & allied sector for their livelihood, he said that this sector needs rejuvenation where NABARD can play a vital role. He stated that banking infrastructure need to be strengthened especially in rural areas for larger credit absorption and efficient delivery to improve the financial health of the rural people.
While taking note of the RIDF issues in the State, he advocated for developing a hybrid fund by combining RIDF and NIDA as also suggested by NABARD officials as it will provide for lower cost and longer gestation period without effecting the borrowing power of the state.
He further stressed on Farmer’s Producer Organization’s (FPO) formation and its handholding which would help the farmers in the state to a great extent as they will be able to produce scientifically as well as market their produce at remunerative prices. He said that FPOs especially for chitronella is highly essential in the State.
While acknowledging the contribution of NABARD in the progress of the State of Arunachal Pradesh, he appreciated the inputs provided by NABARD officials in the meeting. With a view to make this year’s State budget more inclusive and broad based, Mein also sought the inputs from NABARD officials on major priority areas in the field of agriculture & allied activities which needs focus as well as budgetary support from the State government.
Zingnu Namchoom, MLA has emphasised the need for establishing a Fishery Institute in the state and sought NABARD’s guidance and support for the same. He also said that Arunachal Pradesh needs to be supported for water supply projects under RIDF.
Dr Gyanendra Mani, General Manager & former OIC, NABARD Arunachal RO welcomed Deputy Chief Minister and MLA Namsai. He informed that NABARD got full support and cooperation from the State Government, especially from HDCM which got culminated into jointly organising a State Conclave on Agriculture & allied sector in Arunachal Pradesh on 18-19 May 2019. He informed that the recommendation of same have already been brought out and road maps for various agriculture & allied activities have been prepared.
He suggested for revival of cooperative bank as well as rural bank in the state so that they become eligible for refinance from NABARD. He further said that the State Govt needs to help banks in the state in recovering their dues by forming some committees under the chairmanships of DCs at the district level.
The state govt should provide budgetary support for formation of atleast 50 FPOs, modernisation of at least 7-8 APMCs to make them eligible for e-NAM boarding, infrastructure support to veterinary department for vet hospitals, dairy processing sericulture promotion, cold water fisheries, promotion of medicinal & aromatic plants, etc. He also suggested that performance of KVKs may be reviewed with a view to engage them into various developmental activities related to agriculture & allied sector.
GR Chintala, CGM, DOR, Jiji Mammen, CGM, Business Initiative Department, Neeraj Verma, GM & Ex-Managing Director of Nabkishan, Asit Kumar Mohanty, CGM, SPD and AR Khan, GM, FSPD also spoke on the occasion.
