Fadanvis unveils four new schemes in farm and allied sectors

Mumbai, Feb 4: In order to strengthen the farm sector Maharashtra Government has unveiled four new schemes. Launching these schemes on February 2 state Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis said that the four schemes will play a pivotal role in strengthening agriculture sector. Over 2.5 lakh youths will be given training in farming and allied businesses. The Chief Minister announced to provide training to equal number of youths in the state following success of this scheme.

Fadanvis was speaking after inaugurating four important schemes of Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation under the Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Campaign at Sahyadri Guest House. The program was attended by Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil, PWD Minister Eknath Shinde, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Minsiter Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar, MLAs Prasad Lad, Narendra Patil, Vinayak Mete and others.

The Chief Minister launched four schemes aimed at providing financial assistance to economically backward entrepreneurs namely, personal loan interest refund scheme, Group Project loan interest refund scheme, Group Project loan scheme, and Shetkari Kushal Yojana.

In his address Fadanvis said that the government has acted positively on the Maratha Reservation issue and the matter is being persuaded in the court. He said that making jobs available to youth is a responsibility of the state. We could speedily launch these four schemes, made Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Shikshan Pratipurti Yojana for 602 study programs which provided new avenues to students. Hostel facilities are also made available to students through the Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Hostel Scheme, the Chief Minister said.

He further said that these four new schemes are primarily aimed at generating employment and new entrepreneurship in farming and allied activities. These schemes will help youth to develop skills related to farming and industries he said adding the Corporation has prepared a “project appraisal system” under which the banks will extend advances and corporation would pay the interest on them. The Cabinet Sub Committee would review the schemes every fortnight and remove the hurdles in their implementation, he added.

Larger investments are required for community farming, the Chief Minister said appealing agro-businessmen and farmers to come together stressing the need for use of changing technology in farming. We started using urea in 1906 for farming and even after 112 years we could not find out any alternative to it, Fadanvis said emphasizing the need for scientific experimental farming to increase the quality and quantity.

Revenue Minister Chandrakant Patil said that the four schemes being implemented by Annasaheb Patil Economically Backward Development Corporation will generate jobs for the youths besides empowering them. Nearly 2.50 lakh farmers and youths will be provided skill development training for self-employment and business. Under this training in 34 farm-related study programs is included which will be imparted in two training programs. The officials of the corporation would be visiting each district and holding the meetings of farmers and youth to inform them about these schemes, he said. This will benefit the youth of the state, he added.

Minisrter Eknath Shinde said that these schemes are prepared in such a fashion that they would reach the common masses and benefit them. Hence, he appealed to the youth to come forward and make the best use of this opportunity for their economic progress.

Skill Development Minister Sambhaji Patil-Nilangekar said that farming in Israel is considered to be most progressive as they have used scientific experiments and technology to enrich their agriculture. We must follow this system in Maharashtra by adopting the use of modern techniques and experiments. The four schemes launched today will be a step in the direction to provide training and jobs to the youths, he said.

The Skill Development and Entrepreneurship department is implementing Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj Entrepreneurship and Skill Development Campaign. These four schemes are launched today under this campaign.

Brief info about the schemes:

1. Personal Loan interest refund scheme:

* This scheme is for agriculture, related and traditional initiatives, small and medium business such as production, trade, sales and service sectors.

* One individual from one family can take benefit of this scheme.

2. Group Project Loan Interest Refund Scheme:

* This scheme is for agriculture, related and tradition initiatives, small and medium business such as production, trade, sales and service sectors.

* Govt recognised SHGs, Partnership firms, Coop Institutions and Companies qualify for this scheme but they should not avail any benefit of any scheme of the corporation or any other corporation earlier.

3. Group Loan Scheme:

* This scheme is for agriculture, related and tradition initiatives, small and medium business such as production, trade, sales and service sectors.

* Registration on web portal is must for availing benefit of these schemes. Only one person from one family is allowed to take benefit of this scheme.

* This loan will be a term loan and online sanction will be accorded to the groups once they qualify for the same. Repayment of principle amount will have to be repaid from 7th month to 84th month (7 years) in equal instalments.

* The benefit of this scheme is available for residents of Maharashtra who are in the age group of 18-41. The beneficiary must have aadhar linked loan account and the annual family income should be within Rs 8 lakh limit. Divyang person should have a certificate from competent authority.

4. Shetkari Kushal Yojana:

* Skill development training for farmers and youths for self-employment and business

* Training in 34 courses in two training programs. The training period is 16 months and total estimated expenditure is around Rs 200 crore.