POURING MONEY Minor irrigation: Rs 40.34 lakh Land development, farm mechanisation and horticulture: Rs 90.57 lakh Sericulture: Rs 10.63 lakh Forestry and wasteland development: Rs 22.95 lakh

Jan. 2: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) has increased its stake in the development agenda for Darrang district.

The bank has long been investing funds in development projects in the rural areas through various NGOs and government departments. The latest investment of the bank has been prompted by the success of the agricultural and industrial sectors in the past year.

As many as 1,01,875 families dependent on farming for their livelihood will be benefited by the schemes, designed to improve the lives of residents of 563 villages across the district.

Sources in the deputy commissioner’s office said Nabard has sanctioned the funds for as many as 16 sectors under its potential link credit plan for the year 2007-08.

The agriculture sector, which has been given top priority, will get Rs 1,656.77 lakh, sources said.

Loken Das, director of Nabard’s Darrang office, said the strides taken by the agricultural sector in the past year prompted the bank to accord it the highest priority.

Deputy commissioner Sailendra Kumar Nath, who is also the chairman of the district development committee, appreciated Nabard’s move. He said the new investments would generate employment on a large scale and improve the standard of living in the district, particularly of those below the poverty line.

“We are on excellent terms with Nabard and there is no reason why we cannot avail of their help. In fact, we should go ahead and reap the maximum benefits from their schemes,” Nath said.

Nabard will be investing Rs 40.34 lakh in the minor irrigation sector, Rs 90.57 lakh in land development, farm mechanisation and horticulture, Rs 10.63 lakh in sericulture and Rs 22.95 lakh in forestry and wasteland development.

The bank will also invest Rs 166.18 lakh in dairy farms, Rs 78.66 lakh in poultry farming, Rs 61.01 lakh in sheep, goat or pig rearing and Rs 62.04 lakh in fisheries.

The bank will put up Rs 107.5 lakh for godowns and market yards, Rs 9.38 lakh in renewable sources of energy and waste utilisation, Rs 165 lakh as working capital in the non-farming sector, and Rs 51 lakh in the food processing sector.