ITANAGAR, Jul 12: The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) on Sunday celebrated its 45th Foundation Day, reaffirming its commitment to promoting inclusive, resilient and sustainable rural development in Arunachal Pradesh.
Established on July 12, 1982, NABARD said it has evolved from a rural credit institution into a comprehensive development financial institution, supporting infrastructure creation, financial inclusion, institution building, climate resilience, livelihood promotion and innovation across the country.
Highlighting its contribution to Arunachal Pradesh, NABARD stated that it has sanctioned 534 projects worth Rs 5,116.46 crore under the Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF). The projects include construction of rural roads and bridges, irrigation systems, drinking water facilities, flood protection works, soil conservation measures, health infrastructure and educational institutions.
The bank said these investments have significantly improved connectivity and access to essential services in remote areas of the state.
To strengthen rural credit delivery, NABARD has extended cumulative refinance support of Rs 109.56 crore for short-term agricultural loans and Rs 86.05 crore for long-term agricultural loans to Arunachal Pradesh Rural Bank. It also continues to supervise Regional Rural Banks and Cooperative Banks while preparing district-level Potential Linked Credit Plans and the State Focus Paper to facilitate need-based credit planning.
In the area of financial inclusion, NABARD has provided Rs 2,890.22 lakh for various initiatives, including the Self-Help Group (SHG)-Bank Linkage Programme, Joint Liability Groups, financial literacy campaigns and digital financial inclusion.
The institution is also supporting 17 Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in the state, enabling farmers to collectively procure inputs, aggregate produce, undertake value addition and access better markets and institutional finance.
Under its Tribal Development Fund, NABARD has been promoting orchard-based livelihood projects through the WADI programme, helping tribal families establish sustainable plantations of arecanut, citrus, spices and other suitable horticultural crops along with soil and water conservation and livestock development activities.
To encourage sustainable agriculture, NABARD is promoting natural farming under its JIVA programme, demonstrating practices such as Jeevamrit, Beejamrit and biomass recycling to reduce dependence on chemical inputs and improve soil health.
The bank has also sanctioned Rs 2,853.27 lakh for various farm sector initiatives, including the use of digital technologies and Internet of Things (IoT)-based solutions to improve farm productivity and resource management.
Recognising the growing impact of climate change, NABARD said it is supporting springshed development, watershed management, biodiversity conservation and climate-resilient agriculture to enhance water security and ecological sustainability in the Himalayan state.
The institution has also played a key role in promoting Geographical Indication (GI) products. It informed that 18 products from Arunachal Pradesh have received GI certification with NABARD's support, while 18 more products are currently in the pipeline.
To strengthen market access, NABARD has been supporting Rural Haats, Rural Marts, exhibitions, buyer-seller meets and other marketing platforms to connect farmers, artisans and rural entrepreneurs with consumers.
For promoting rural entrepreneurship, NABARD has sanctioned Rs 963.78 lakh for off-farm sector activities and Rs 245.95 lakh for skill development and capacity building programmes. These initiatives cover food processing, tailoring, handicrafts, bakery and other locally viable enterprises.
The bank has also supported the computerisation of 14 Large-sized Multipurpose Cooperative Societies (LAMPS) in the state to improve governance and operational efficiency.
NABARD said women remain central to its development strategy through SHGs, livelihood promotion, financial literacy and enterprise development programmes.
Reaffirming its partnership with the Government of Arunachal Pradesh, banks, cooperatives, research institutions, NGOs and community organisations, NABARD said it will continue to support the state's vast potential in high-value agriculture, horticulture, natural farming, GI products, food processing, bamboo, handloom, handicrafts, renewable energy and technology-enabled rural enterprises.
On its 45th Foundation Day, the institution renewed its commitment to strengthening rural infrastructure, promoting sustainable livelihoods, protecting natural resources and empowering rural communities across Arunachal Pradesh.