NCDC provides Rs 3,200 mn fund

Thiruvananthapuram: The National Co-operative Development Corporation (NCDC) has disbursed Rs 320 crore for various development programmes in Kerala in 2007-08.

The funds were provided mainly for agro-processing and value addition of farm produces (Rs 53.71 crore); towards the working capital of State Co-operative Agriculture and Rural and Development Bank and district cooperative banks (Rs 220 crore); for the development of agriculture marketing business by primary level agricultural marketing societies (Rs 2.06 crore); and for setting up of farmers service centres (Rs 16.19 crore), according to Mr. B.R. Nair, Regional Director of NCDC.

Funds provided:

Funds were also provided to weaker section co-operatives (Rs 13.75 crore); service sector co-operatives (Rs 10.18 crore); spinning mills (Rs 7 crore); and district-based Integrated Co-operative Development Projects for development of rural economy (Rs 5.57 crore).

Mr Nair said that if the State Government recommended more proposals, NCDC was in a position to finance and further strengthen cooperatives in the State for the development of agriculture and agro-based processing units and allied sectors such as fisheries, coir, handlooms, dairy, poultry, labour contract societies and SC/ST societies.

Fisheries sector:

He said the Integrated Cooperative Development Project (phase-II) for Wayanad district was likely to be approved soon. A massive project for input distribution in the fisheries sector was also under the consideration of the State Government for submission to NCDC, he added.