PANAJI
Goa’s agriculture and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) will require institutional credit of Rs 16,512 crore in 2026-27 to meet their sectoral needs, according to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). The projection marks an increase of nearly 29 per cent over the current year’s estimated credit requirement of about Rs 12,800 crore.
The projection has been outlined in NABARD’s State Focus Paper for the coming financial year. The report estimates the Projected Linked Potential (PLP) for priority sector lending at Rs 10,339.38 crore in North Goa and Rs 6,173.14 crore in South Goa.
“The credit potential is estimated based on the priorities and policies of the Government of India and the State Government, and also keeping in view the Priority Sector Lending (PSL) guidelines issued by the Reserve Bank of India,” NABARD stated in the paper.
NABARD underlined that bankers and the State government must work together to ensure timely and adequate access to credit for economic activities identified under priority sectors, which include agriculture, MSMEs, education, housing and renewable energy.
The MSME sector is projected to account for the largest share of the total credit requirement. NABARD has estimated MSME credit demand at Rs 10,800.06 crore, which constitutes around 65 per cent of the overall credit potential of the State. In the current financial year, credit flow to MSMEs stood at Rs 9,348 crore.
“In tune with its service-sector-dominated economy, the performance under MSMEs has been adequate over the last few years,” NABARD noted, indicating steady growth and absorption capacity within the sector.
Region-wise, the credit potential for MSMEs in North Goa is estimated at Rs 7,074.58 crore, accounting for 76 per cent of the district’s total priority sector potential. A similar proportion has been projected for South Goa, where MSME credit potential also stands at Rs 7,074.58 crore, or 76 per cent of the district’s priority sector lending.
The agriculture and allied sectors, including activities such as animal husbandry, fisheries and horticulture, are expected to require Rs 5,159.09 crore in credit during 2026-27. The remaining Rs 552.85 crore has been projected for other priority sectors such as education loans, housing loans and renewable energy initiatives.
NABARD said the State Focus Paper is prepared through a detailed assessment of credit potential at the district level. The exercise involves mapping sector-wise and activity-wise demand for funds, along with an analysis of the agricultural economy and development profile of each district.
Speaking on the report, NABARD General Manager Sandeep Dharkar said the PLP serves as a strategic tool for assessing the credit potential of various sectors, while also identifying infrastructure linkages, existing gaps and the kind of institutional support required to fully harness a district’s potential.
“The PLP 2026-27 will serve as a guiding framework for credit planning and will contribute meaningfully to the growth of priority sectors in the district,” Dharkar said, adding that the document acts as a roadmap for aligning institutional credit with regional developmental priorities.
