ITANAGAR, 25 Jun: The state credit seminar (SCS) for FY 2026-27 was organised at DK State Convention Centre here on Thursday by the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).
The seminar aimed at facilitating discussions on the state focus paper brought out by the NABARD, mapping the available potential for bank credit for various priority sectors/sub-sectors during FY 2026-27, identifying critical infrastructure gaps under various sectors, and indicating expected support for banks from different agencies/government departments.
The participants included senior bankers and officials of various state government departments.
RBI GM Abhijit Majumdar explained the credit planning process at block, district and state-levels and the lead bank scheme being implemented in all states. He clarified the distinction between potential linked credit plans (PLPs) of the NABARD and district credit plans prepared by the lead banks under the lead bank scheme. He explained that the potential linked credit plans form the basis for district credit plans, and the dovetailing of both results in directing credit to priority areas as per the potential assessed.
The RBI GM pointed out that the banks in the state have financed MSME in a big way but finance to agriculture is still low. He urged banks to improve credit to agriculture, keeping in view the national and state priorities and the contribution of agriculture to the GSDP of the state and GDP of the nation.
He also spoke on the need for digitisation of banking transactions and extending banking outreach to remote/unbanked areas. Appreciating the state focus paper brought out by the NABARD, he urged all agencies to use it as a reference document for their credit and development planning in the state.
NABARD GM SV Ranga Rao pointed out that the DFS, GoI had given a target of Rs 2,250 crore for agricultural credit last year. However, considering the difficulties being expressed by banks in extending credit to agriculture, potential of Rs 1,071.17 crore only has been assessed for FY 2026-27. There is a consultative process involved in preparing PLPs at district level, which includes discussions on action plans/schemes/initiatives of various departments, constraints in credit flow, improvement in infrastructure, etc, for which NABARD officers need the support of line departments and feedback/insights from all stakeholders, the NABARD said.
Considering the importance required to be given to credit to agriculture and digitisation of banking operations, the NABARD suggested that the focus during the year could be on agricultural and digital banking in the state, besides MSME finance. He urged all banks to avail of support from the NABARD under the financial inclusion fund.
SBI DGM SLBC Amit Ranjan emphasised that banks need to implement the PMFBY simultaneous with issuance of KCC loans to ensure immediate crop risk coverage for farmers. He also stressed the need to “mandate asset insurance for financed assets like equipment and machinery, protecting both farmers and banks from potential losses.”
NABARD DGM Vivek Anand gave a detailed presentation on the potential estimation under various sectors and the activities undertaken by the NABARD in the state. The thrust areas identified include micro-irrigation, warehouses, cold storages, rural tourism, medicinal and aromatic plants, formation of FPOs, food processing activities, promoting self-enterprise, supporting startups and innovations, support to cooperatives, and such.
