The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has prepared a Rs 34,490 crore credit potential scheme to boost agriculture and other priority sectors.

Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu stated this while inaugurating the State Credit Seminar for the financial year 2024-25 organised by NABARD here on Wednesday.

He said that based on the available resources and banking structure in the state, a credit potential scheme of Rs 34,490 crore has been prepared by the NABARD for agriculture and allied activities, MSME and other priority sectors for the year 2024-25, which is eight per cent higher than the last year.

He also formally released ‘NABARD State Focus Paper-2024-25 on the occasion.

“With the aim of socio-economic upliftment of the people, the state government has launched Mukhya Mantri Swablamban Yojana, Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture, Mukhya Mantri Laghu Shopkeeper Kalyan Yojana, Mukhya Mantri Green Cover Mission, Mukhya Mantri Rojgar Sankalp Seva, and Mukhya Mantri Vidyarthi Yojana besides start-ups,” he said.

“I urge banks to extend their active support in providing loans for proper implementation of these schemes so that farmers, horticulturists and youth avail maximum benefit from these schemes,” Sukhu said.

As per the RBI report, none of the districts in the state falls in the category of ‘credit deficient’ districts. Although the credit flow in these districts is normal, the loan-to-deposit ratio of the state is 36.39 per cent.

The Chief Minister expressed his concern that the ‘loan to deposit ratio’ in Bilaspur, Hamirpur, Kangra, Mandi, Una, Lahaul-Spiti and Chamba is consistently less than 40 per cent. He said that the NABARD has a major role in making Himachal Pradesh self-reliant.

The CM said that climate change has affected Himachal as well but the state government has taken several steps to cope with the situation. Green Industry and e-vehicles are being encouraged in the state in a big way so that dependence on fossil fuels could be reduced, he added.

“The state government will also commence schemes to strengthen the rural economy and efforts are on to promote natural farming. Recently, the rate of milk purchase was increased by six rupees. Our government will promote agriculture on the lines of industry and efforts are being made to promote dairy-based industry and a Rs 250 crore state-of-the-art Milk Processing Plant is being established at Dhagawar in Kangra district,” he said.