Education Minister Siddhartha Bhattacharya Launches Farmers Schemes

A Correspondent

Hailakandi: Minister for Education, Siddhartha Bhattacharya formally launched a slew of schemes for farmers, including a partial loan reimbursement programme that will make crop loans effectively interest-free, aiming to give a fillip to the flow of agricultural credit.

Minister Bhattacharya launched the Mukhya Mantri Krishi Sa Sajuli Yozana (MMKSSY) benefitting 12,344 small and marginal farmers of the district at a function held at Deputy Commissioner’s office premises here on Monday.

Bhattacharya said the scheme aims at promoting farm mechanisation by giving financial assistance of Rs.5,000 each to a poor farmer to buy agriculture implements and tools. He said the scheme would go a long way in enhancing the income of the farmers by boosting their productivity through farm mechanisation.

The amount will be transferred to the beneficiaries’ bank accounts through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mode. Altogether five lakh farmers of the State will be covered under MMKSSY.

Bhattacharya launched the Assam Farmers’ Credit Subsidy Scheme (AFCSS), 2018, under which the government will reimburse 25% of the loans taken or repaid by farmers this financial year, with a limit of Rs 25,000. This scheme will cover 4 lakh farmers and involve a financial outgo of Rs 500 crore. The minister also launched the Assam Farmers’ Interest Relief Scheme (AFIRS), which will extend support to farmers who are prompt in repaying their loans, by providing a 4% interest subvention on short-term crop loans up to Rs 2 lakh. “This scheme will be aligned with the Government of India scheme under which prompt-paying farmers are extended a benefit on interest subvention of 3%. This effective rate of interest for a farmer accessing short-term crop loan up to a ceiling of Rs 2 lakh will be zero, “ he said.

Also Read: Cachar News