The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has disbursed Rs 31,786 crore to Odisha during the financial year 2021-22, recording an increase of 40 per cent over the preceding year.

The financial support comprises Rs 14,077 crore to banks for lending towards crop loans as well as term loans in the state and Rs 3,031 crore to the state government under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF) for creating infrastructure in rural areas.

In a media release issued on Friday, Nabard has said it has disbursed Rs 14,485 crore for supporting paddy procurement operations in the state during the year 2021-22. To aid the economic revival and address liquidity problems faced by banks due to the pandemic, Nabard has also provided a special liquidity facility (SLF) of Rs 1,250 crore.

It further said it had promoted 325 FPOs (Farmer Producer Organisations), which are benefitting about 1.30 lakh farmers. In order to give a fillip to the movement of FPOs in the state, the Nabard conducted a month-long campaign called “FPO Abhiyan”.

Promotional support from the Nabard for Rural non-farm sector included formation of five new Off-Farm Producer Organisations (OFPOs) in the area of handloom and handicrafts development.

While FPOs support the requirements of farmers, OFPOs are being formed for integrated development of rural craftsmen and weavers.

Further, skill training and livelihood promotion support to SHG women were continued. In order to improve marketing avenues for rural products, the Nabard supported infrastructure in the form of rural haats, sales outlets for SHG products, gramin dukaan, apart from supporting participation in exhibitions.

Grant support of Rs 34.14 crore was provided to banks from the financial inclusion fund to expand the banking touch points in rural areas and for creating awareness on financial inclusion.

During 2021-22, the Nabard sanctioned fresh RIDF assistance of Rs 4,013 crore for construction of 243 new rural roads, 263 bridges, one medium irrigation project, 9,836 minor irrigation projects, six flood protection and 9 rural drinking water projects in Odisha.

The sanction in the year 2021-22 was higher by 24 per cent as compared to that of 2020-21.

The drinking water projects are expected to provide clean and safe drinking water to 17 lakh rural population across the State. The support under RIDF to Odisha is the highest in the country.

The Nabard is implementing 69 tribal development projects supporting horticulture-based livelihoods in 46,000 acres benefitting more than 50,000 tribal families in 24 districts of Odisha, at present.