Date:26/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/26/stories/2007072658180300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

‘Bankers should extend loans’

Staff Reporter

MAHABUBNAGAR: District Collector V.Usharani has called upon the bankers to play a key role in extending loans to the farmers extensively. She was addressing a workshop on “Agriculture and SMEs finances” organized by SBH Main branch here Wednesday. 38 branch Managers of SBH attended this workshop.

Speaking as chief guest on the occasion the Collector said agriculture sector and small and marginal entrepreneurs are the thrust areas where economy revolves around them. She said 90 per cent people in the district depend on the agriculture and allied sectors. More so the district is basically drought hit and in the last 60 years, it was under the clutches of drought for 44 years. She also said traditional farming and opting to get loans from Private money lenders are paving the way for suicide and migration of farmers for their livelihood. She asked the bankers to motivate farmers to go on ventures that return good market support price.

She has also urged the bankers to finance on milch animals, milk chilling centers and fodder growing centres. She greeted SBH authorities for conducting this work shop and hoped it will go a long way in achieving cent percent targets set for the district under Government sponsored schemes.

Throws light

Mr. Suresh AGM NABARD speaking on the occasion has thrown light on banking sectors for financing to right areas. He said that SHGs can finance extensively .

Mr.V.Suryanarayana Rao AGM SBH, who welcomed the guests, gave a brief account of the banks finance on farming and allied activities.Among others the meeting was attended by the Chief Managers of SBH Baswaraj, Krupanandam Reddy.