Crop loans worth Rs 2,500 crore disbursed in Cgarh

Raipur, Sep 4 (PTI) Crop loans to the tune of over Rs2,500 crore have been disbursed so far during the ongoingkharif season in Chhattisgarh. State Cooperative Bank (APEX Bank) has set a target todisburse Rs 2,800 crore interest-free short-term agricultureloans during Kharif season 2016-17 through its primaryagriculture cooperative societies, Ashok Bajaj, chairman ofthe bank said today. Sum to the tune of Rs 2, 559 crore have so far beendisbursed (at the rate of 0 %) to 9.29 lakh farmers as shortterm crop loan which is 91.39 per cent of the set target,Bajaj said. Out of the total loans distributed, Rs 17, 477 crorehas been distributed as cash while Rs 8, 119 crore in form ofagricultural related materials, he said. The last date of loan distribution is September 30. As per the policy of government, farmers of state arebeing provided short-term agricultural loan without interestfor both kharif and rabi season.  The interest incurred onloans given to farmers borne by State Government and Centre. An amount of Rs 159 crore had been given away as loanto 59,584 farmers of Raipur, Rs 197.90 crore to 77, 334farmers of Balodabazar-Bhatapara, Rs 166.94 crore, 51,656farmers in Mahasamund, Rs 178.48 crore to 56,114 farmers ofDurg, Rs 231.71 crore to 74,000 farmers in Bemetara and Rs 251crore in Rajnandgaon to 1.05 lakh farmers, he said. Besides, loans were also distributed in otherdistricts smootly, he said. PTI TKP ARS