71 lakh farming families in Bengal affected: agri dept

HT, 26 Nov 2016, Kolkata: The current cash crisis following the demonetisation of high-value old currencies of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 has affected the livelihood of 71.23 lakh families in rural West Bengal whose livelihood is totally dependent on agriculture, the state agriculture department said. “We have finalised the number of affected families after collecting information from each of the district magistrates with whom we had been interacting since the demonetisation announcement was made,” a state agriculture department official said.

In view of the crisis, he said, the state agriculture department has opened a special control room at the state secretariat, Nabanna, from Friday. “The control room will operate from 8 am to 8 pm on all working days. Through this control room, the state government will keep a close watch on the crisis in the farming sector of the state,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned an additional Rs 1,000 crore for West Bengal in the wake of demonetisation.

“For the entire country, NABARD has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 21,000 crore, of which West Bengal’s share is to the tune of Rs 900 crore-Rs 1,000 crore,” the NABARD chief general manager, AK Raybarman, said at a meeting on corporate social responsibility organised by CII here on Friday.

According to him, the sanction, given in the aftermath of demonetisation, is a measure aimed at helping cash-starved farmers in the Rabi sowing season. He said NABARD is working hard to make sure there is enough cash at farmers’ disposal.

“Efforts are underway to revive a system that will reduce the need for cash for buying farm inputs. If things go as planned, farmers will be able to buy farm products without having to make cash payment,” Raybarman said.

According to him, things like a pay order could be issued to 60-70% of farmers and credit limit redeemed at the farm stores. “If the cash demand is lowered by 70%, things will be a lot easier,” he said.