Coimbatore, Dec. 7
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has come to an agreement with the Government of Tamil Nadu to financially support the State, in the development of irrigation and agriculture with about Rs. 4,500 crores.
Ranging from desilting water bodies to setting up of a comprehensive supply chain management scheme for farmers, the funds, which are to be distributed in a phased manner under various schemes, would cover most of the areas required in producing and marketing agricultural produce.
According to S. Nagoor Ali Jinnah, Chief General Manager of NABARD, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, one of the immediate works of NABARD would be to help the State set up a Supply Chain Management Scheme at a cost of Rs. 368 crores. “The system would include setting up of terminal markets and cold storage centre in 10 identified districts based on the production of perishable commodity,” he said.
The NABARD would also be involved in modernising the existing 32 Agriculture Producing Marketing Companies (APMCs) in the State at a cost of Rs. 200 crores. These centres are to provide assured market for the agricultural produce. “The farmers will get immediate money through these centres, which would act as procuring units,” he told the Simplicity.
In addition, NABARD has planned to set up a Mega Food Park, which would not only help in storing food items, but also help in value addition. The required fund for the project was yet to be estimated, but Mr. Jinnah said that NABARD was ready to provide any funding to the park, even to an extent of Rs. 1,000 crores.
In the irrigation sector, NABARD has taken up funding for desilting of 41, 000 lakes in the State at a cost of Rs. 3000 crores. The fund would be released in a phased manner under the Rural Infrastructure Development Scheme. Rs. 500 crore would be released each year towards the project, which would also include strengthening the canals and other water channels.
New water sheds are also to be formed to conserve water. In addition, close to 4400 ‘Water Ambassadors’ are to be chosen to create awareness among the local community to promote rain water harvesting and other water conservation strategies.
“The NABARD would also provide Kisan Credit Cards to farmers, which would help them get a loan of upto Rs. 3 lakh at an interest rate of seven per cent.
Mr. Jinnah was at the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University on Wednesday for a three day National Conference titled ‘New Vistas in Vegetable Research towards Nutritional Security under Changing Climate Scenario’.