Finance Minister T Harish Rao today emphasized the need for oil palm production, increase of godowns capacity and exports of quality produce. He was addressing a Nabard conference on state loan finance plan at Hotel Marigold here in Ameerpet area.
Planning Commission Deputy Chairman B Vinod Kumar, Nabard CM Ramkrishna Rao, Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar, principal secretary Ramakrishna Rao and others attended the meeting.
On the occasion, Harish Rao has asked the agriculture banker to give Rs 2 lakh loan to farmers to grow oil palm to reap in benefits. Since irrigation systems are in full swing, water and moisture are more the farmers are growing paddy up to 90 percent.
Nabard allotted Rs 1,35,780.33cr plan for 2021 – 22 including Rs 59,440.44 cr for agriculture and marketing in the state.
We need to change them to oil pal produce and other commercial crops to get benefit as it gets no monkeys’ menace and wild boars. The oil palm production will help increase country’s economy and push farmers income, he averred. Give the farmers adequate and timely loans to increase farm production and get more income, Harish Rao asked the Nabard officials.
The Minister instructed that the Nabard has to focus on farmers welfare through continuous programs. We need to increase storage capacity, marketing, exports, better and quality packaging of farm product and MSP, the minister said.
He asked Nabard to coordinate with state departments to ensure speedy delivery of the services to farmers. Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has built irrigation systems by spending huge funds he said. As a result the paddy, cotton and other crops are being produced more by our farmers more than expected, he claimed.
The minister attributed this period of golden harvest to the vision of the Chief Minister. Supply mechanism, equipment and inputs with funding to farmers to plough and gain more, he advised. The minister maintained that Nabard aim is farmers welfare and through continuous support.
Help the farmers get necessary and timely financial support at field level by offering guidance for modern and benefit making practices. Due to lack of workers we focus on using equipment, mechanization for farming activities Harish Rao said.
He said that the Chief Minister has been successful in his efforts to protect farmers interests. Rythu Bandhu, Rythu Bhima, 24 hour power supply and other schemes are only implemented in Telangana. Let us focus on alternative farming activities to get more benefits he added.
Support oil palm production: Harish Rao tells Nabard officials
