Country will witness bumper Rabi crop and farmers will get a good return: NABARD chairman

GUWAHATI: Chairman of National bank for agriculture &rural development G R Chintala said on Tuesday said that country will witness bumper Rabi crop and farmers will get a good return.

Chintala, who is visiting Northeast India in Guwahati, while addressing mediapersons, said that even during covid-19 pandemic agriculture sector has remained robust and the Union budget presented on Monday has amplified the same.

He said, " We had a good kharif crop and we are expecting bumper Rabi Crop. Farmers will get a very good return. "


The chairman said that out of Rs 15 lakh crore credit sanctioned already Rs 11.8 lakh crore is disbursed. " We have set a target of 16.5 lakh crore for next year. "

He added that increase in allocation of Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) to Rs 40,000 crore and doubling of Micro Irrigation Fund announced in the Budget will accelerate will be a big boost to the agriculture sector.

He said that the budget has laid emphasis on infrastructure and this will become foundation of future India. " We had sought Rs 50, 000 crore and the finance minister was gracious enough to accept it and this time they gave Rs 40,000 crore. "

He said that Assam in last two years had got Rs 1200 crore each under Ridf. " This time the state has spend little less however Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal has assured that the amount will be spent soon and for next year he has sought increase of the amount to Rs 2000 crore. I have assured that we will favourably look into it. "

The chairman said that 15th finance commission has identified around 98 lakh hectares where micro irrigation will be feasible. " In Assam resurgence has come in the agriculture sector. We are also promoting off farm activity in a big way. "

He said that palm oil is huge sector and Northeast India is suitable for palm oil Cultivation. " Indian imports palm oil to the tune of Rs 70,000crore, we have around 19 lakh hectares land suitable for palm oil cultivation. "