| NABARD organises workshop on Agriclinic, Agribusiness scheme | | |  Early Times Report
Kathua, Feb 19: One day workshop on Agri-clinic and Agri-business centre scheme of Government of India was organised in Kathua district by National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development to sensitize Government Departments and bankers on the salient features of ACABC scheme.
According to press release, the main participants in ACABC workshop were Sheresh Sharma, Cluster Head, J&K Bank, Hans Raj Hans, LDM, Kathua, Baldev Sharma, District Manager, JCCB, Kathua, S S Lakhanpuria, District Agriculture Officer, Dr.Vijay Kumar, KVK, Aman Kalsotra, AGM (DD), NABARD, branch managers of different banks operating in Kathua district and representatives of various government departments.
On this occassion, Aman Kalsotra, DDM, NABARD explained the objective of ACABC scheme which is to provide extention and other services to farmers with support in agricultural development and to provide for gainful self-employment opportunities. He differences between the agriclinic and agribusiness centres is Agri-clinics are to provide expert advice and services which would enhance productivity and ensure increased income to farmers while agribusiness centre is to promote commercial agri-ventures for income generation and enterprise development.
He further explained in detail the persons eligible under ACABC central subsidy scheme, the margin required and security norms to be adhered to by the banks. The individual ceiling under the scheme is `20 lakh per borrower ( `25 lakh in case of extremely successful project) and group ceiling `100 lakh for atleast 5 trained persons, one of whom could be from management background. The quantum of subsidy is 44% for women, SC/ST and all category of borrowers from NER and hilly states, 36% for all other entrepreneurs.
The subsidy will be released upfront in one installment by NABARD to banks after sanction of loan by the banks, subject to availability of funds from GOI.
The scheme is in operation for the current financial year 2014-15. He informed that NABARD has sanctioned a spawn lab to KVK, Kathua, thus spawn bottles for mushroom will be available in the district, in days to come.
Hansraj Hans, Lead District Manager Kathua impressed upon the bankers to come forward and provide credit benefits to agriculture graduates. He informed about the initiative taken by the bankers in sanctioning KCC in Kathua district, covering eligible farm families.
He asked them to go a step ahead and cover the farmers under JLG mode. He asked them to change their mindset, as it is the greatest stumbling block in self improvement and development. |
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