The State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) chaired by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday approved the credit scheme of Rs 26.33 lakh crore in 2022-23 from Rs 18.11 lakh crore in 2021-22 for Maharashtra, an increase of 45.38%. Of which, SLBC has set a crop loan target of Rs 64,000 crore against Rs 60,859 crore during the same period.

Thackeray ordered nationalized central, private and district cooperative banks to disburse loans to farmers in mission mode with the onset of the monsoon in particular and the Kharif season.

Thackeray, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Agriculture Minister Dadaji Bhuse and Cooperation Minister Basaheb Patil have called on banks to reach Kharif’s maximum target by the end of June.

As of March 31, 2022, the aggregate achievement of the state banks was 81% at Rs 49,899 crore of the annual crop lending target of Rs 60,589 crore showing 3% year-on-year growth. other. The overall achievement during the same period of the previous year (2020-21) was 76%.

Of the Rs 48,999 crore, realization of DCCBs was 89%, followed by Nationalized Banks at 78% and Private Banks at 62% in agricultural loan disbursement. The achievement of private banks was 15% lower than in 2020-21, a senior cooperation department official said.

In the case of 54 lakh farmers, DCCBs disbursed agricultural loans at 29.79 lakh against 24.26 lakh farmers by national, private and regional rural banks. DCCBs lend to rain-fed farmers who depend on them, while nationalized and private banks lend mainly to large farmers who grow cash crops.

In addition, SLBC has decided that nationalized and private banks should increase their agricultural lending targets in Nagpur, Buldhana, Wardha, Nashik and Solapur where DCCBs are weak so that farmers are not deprived of agricultural loans.