Faridkot
As the cooperative agricultural bank allegedly does not have sufficient funds to provide the farmers seasonal crop loans,the cooperative societies in the district are unable to accept new farmers as members.
Usually,new agricultural accounts are opened in cooperative bank in April after the limits of the farmers are sanctioned for seasonal crop loans etc.
"There are about 33 farmers with us whose membership request has been forwarded by us but has not been approved for about two years.We have forwarded all the membership requests to the concerned authorities,but there is some problem of funds due to which new limits are not sanctioned,"said Sukhjinder Singh,secretary multipurpose cooperative society Devi Wala which caters to the needs of the farmers of about 6 villages.
The interested farmers have to first deposit a membership fees of about Rs 550 along with some documents.Then their names are forwarded for approval. After the approval,the farmers submit their land records for the cash crop loans etc and their accounts are opened in the bank which makes them eligible for all kinds of transactions. But the applications for membership are allegedly getting dust at the first stage only,it has been learnt.
"Earlier,some farmers were not interested in having accounts with societies because they didn't want to get crop loans.But now there is a problem of buying fertilizers.About 80 percent quota of fertilisers is distributed through cooperative societies while private dealers get only 20 percent.They also tag many unwanted things along with the fertilizers,"said Sarbjeet Singh,a farmer from village Chahal of the district.
He said that about 100 farmers are waiting for membership in the village cooperative society.
"I want to have my account with the agricultural society,but new farmers are refused by the cooperative societies as the membershipis not being approved.We have been kept out of availing cheap crop loans and fertilizers. We urge the government to provide the cooperative bank sufficient funds,"said Sewa Singh,a farmer from village Matta.
"The infrastructure of the cooperative banks is not very good.So most of the people don't deposit their money with the bank.The heavy cash deposits go to the other state owned or private banks.So cooperative bank has to only give loans to the farmers.The bank does not have more resources to provide crop loans to the farmers and so no new crop limits are sanctioned for about two years.There is the problem in the state and situation will only approve if the state government provides the bank about Rs 400 crore funds,"claimed a source.
There are over 80 cooperative societies in Faridkot district alone with a large number of farmers waiting for their membership approval.
Even,a farmer said if there was some old approval, accounts are not opened with the bank.
The multipurpose cooperative societies provide the farmers crop loans,loans for fuel,fertilizers, insecticides and many household commodities are also provided to the memers at reasonable prices.They also rent out all kinds of agricultural equipments including tractors etc to the farmers.
The sources said that despite all efforts,things have not moved at all.
Vineet Kumar,DC Faridkot couldn't be contacted on his cell phone.
The sources said the DC and other higher authories are aware of the issue,but problem is unresolved yet.