Convert hailstorm-affected farmers’ short-term crop loans to medium term

Bhopal: All district collectors in the state have been directed to convene meeting of District Coordination Committee (DCC) at the earliest with a view to providing relief to farmers affected by recent hailstorm in the state. Agricultural Production Commissioner Shri M.M. Upadhyay has written a letter to this effect to district collectors.
The collectors have been directed to provide relief to farmers immediately in view of hailstorm in their respective districts. For this, short-term crop loans of farmers should be converted to medium-term ones. The Agricultural Production Commissioner said that collector should present report of crops loss before the DCC. If the committee is satisfied, short-term loan for current crop should be converted to medium-term one. Following the committee’s decision, this facility can be provided to farmers by banks.
The Agricultural Production Commissioner has also written to collectors to study guidelines of NABARD vide December 8, 2005 in this regard.