Recovery by banks in Haryana for advances to the agriculture sector declined by 6% during the last financial year (2008-09) and overall recovery figures for the priority sector advances slipped by 4%. As per data provided by Punjab National Bank at a meeting of state-level bankers’ committee on Thursday, the overall recovery position has declined from 76% as on March 31, 2008, to 72% as on March 31 this year. Data also revealed that recovery from the medium and small enterprises sector grew by 6% from 72% in fiscal 2007-08 to 78% by the end of fiscal 2008-09. But other priority sector advances recovery also declined by 6% from 81% to 75% last year, making the total average figure of recovery negative by 4%.
Banks in Haryana had given advances of about Rs 9,329.25 crore to the agriculture sector in fiscal 2008-09. Of this, about Rs 6,465.04 crore were recovered, with Rs 2,864.21 crore outstanding. Overall advances to the priority sector were to the tune of Rs 13,247.65 crore, of which Rs 9,482.85 crore were recovered with an outstanding of Rs 3,764.80 crore, the total recovery being 72% of the total advances.
The recovery position of transport loans also declined from 67.31% in 2007-08 to 66.35% in 2008-09. As per data available, there was a slump in demand for transport loans, which fell from Rs 24.53 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 11.02 crore.
The committee also reviewed the position of deposit of 75% share of other farmers not covered under the debt-waiver scheme, for which farmers are not very forthcoming. “It was observed that due to untimely rain, harvesting of rabi crop was delayed, due to which farmers did not come forward with payment of their share,” Nagesh Pydah, executive director, Punjab National Bank, told FE. However, the farmers are likely to deposit the installments soon due to an extension of the deadline by another six months.