With the aim of boosting the economy of Bihar and increasing income and employment in villages, the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development on Monday released the State Focus Paper for the financial year 2026-27. The report has estimated a total loan potential of Rs 2.80 lakh crore for important sectors of the state.
This state focus paper related to agriculture of Bihar was jointly launched by Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav, Industry Minister Dilip Jaiswal, Agriculture Minister Ramkripal Yadav and Cooperative Minister Pramod Chandravanshi. The ministers questioned the banks regarding the state’s low credit-deposit ratio (CD ratio). He asked why Bihar’s CD ratio of 57.36 percent is the lowest in the country? After all, why are people not getting their deposited money in the form of loan and where is this money going? Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav advised banks to be generous in giving loans to farmers.
According to NABARD, the largest portion of this loan scheme has been given to the MSME sector. Its objective is to strengthen small farmers, women entrepreneurs and rural youth economically by connecting them with the banking system. On the basis of this report, banks will now set targets for giving loans according to districts, which will increase money transactions in villages and increase employment opportunities.
This is the plan for agriculture
According to the report, a total loan capacity of Rs 1,24,558.45 crore has been fixed for the agriculture sector. In this, Rs 69,336.19 crore has been kept for crop loan, so that the farmers can get seeds, fertilizers and other essential items on time. An estimate of Rs 18,000 crore is estimated for the expansion of animal husbandry and dairy, while a target of Rs 2,972.89 crore has been set for fish farming. To increase local industry in the state and reduce migration of people, a loan capacity of Rs 1,24,147.60 crore has been fixed for the MSME sector. This is expected to promote small industries, startups and traditional cottage industries.
Plan regarding education-housing
NABARD has made a provision of Rs 4,586.56 crore for education loans, Rs 11,132.55 crore for the housing sector and Rs 6,087.53 crore for social infrastructure such as schools, health centers and sanitation projects. A loan capacity of Rs 1,589.25 crore has been fixed for renewable energy projects, especially solar energy and biogas.
A target of Rs 7,951.16 crore has been set for building cold storages and warehouses to provide better prices to farmers and reduce crop losses. Apart from this, a loan capacity of Rs 6,218.03 crore has been fixed for food processing units, so that the value chain of agricultural products can be strengthened.