Milky way ahead

Jamshedpur, April 16: Keen to change the economic status of the state, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has lined up several promising schemes this fiscal.

Revealing the plans, Nabard officials highlighted setting up of self-help groups (SHGs) as one of its major focus area. Plans are afoot to set up 30 state-of-the-art dairy firms in the state and convert the existing SHGs into micro enterprises. Besides, talks are on for setting up a federation to launch a second crop programme, which would ensure better return in a financial year to farmers.

“This will bring in a major change in the economic status of the state. Instead of simply focusing on one crop, the farmers will be advised to put in efforts to get two crops in a year,” K.C. Shashidhar, the chief general manager of Nabard for the state of Jharkhand, told The Telegraph.

The diversification of farmers’ products would be another area of focus. Bulk production of hybrid varieties of capsicum, tomatoes, potatoes and broccoli are being seen as viable options.

“Another essential establishment — rural godowns —would be set up in all the districts,” added Shashidhar.

The public sector bank has, significantly, increased its share of allotment from the previous financial year. In the 2008-09 fiscal, Rs 406.86 crore has been sanctioned to the state government against normative allocation of Rs 350 crore under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). The cumulative sanctions to the state government, however, stands at Rs. 1279.15 crore at the end of March 2008.