CM stresses need for lending to women farmers and self-help groups
PANAJI
Goa’s priority sector credit potential for the upcoming fiscal (2026–27) has been pegged at Rs 16,512.53 crore, a 29 per cent rise over last year’s estimate, according to the 'State Focus Paper' unveiled by NABARD at its State Credit Seminar in the city on Thursday.
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant released the paper at the seminar organised by NABARD’s Goa Regional Office. It was attended by senior officials from the State government, Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of India.
The paper consolidates district-level assessments and serves as a planning tool for banks and policymakers.
Of the projected credit, Rs 5,159.10 crore has been assessed for agriculture and allied activities, Rs 10,800.06 crore for the MSME sector, and Rs 553.37 crore for other priority sectors.
Sawant urged banks to support high-value horticulture, plantation rejuvenation, organic clusters, precision agriculture and agritourism, the focus areas under Goa's new Amrit Kaal Agriculture Policy unveiled last year.
He stressed the need for targeted lending to women farmers and self-help groups, noting that 2026 has been declared the International Year of Women Farmers.
He also called for convergence in fisheries and animal husbandry, MSME enablement, and special focus on the newly created Kushavati district.
The Chief Minister said the credit plan should translate into productive assets, sustainable livelihoods and resilient rural infrastructure, aligned with the State’s Swayampurna Goem and Vikasit Goa 2037 vision.
On the occasion, NABARD also released a booklet titled Sahkar se Samriddhi -- Inspiring Tales of Goa’s Cooperatives, highlighting success stories of cooperative societies, and screened a short film on its developmental programmes.
Progressive women farmers were felicitated for their leadership in organic farming, agri-processing and community initiatives.
NABARD officials reiterated the institution’s role in strengthening the rural economy through concessional credit, promotion of farmer producer organisations, self-help groups and primary agricultural credit societies, besides support for rural infrastructure, watershed development and tribal livelihood diversification.
