About 333 primary agricultural credit cooperatives in the state of Chhatisgarh have proved how noble the concept of cooperative could be. They are at the vanguard of distributing agricultural loans t of over Rs 181 crore to farmers since October 2011 to boost production of Rabi crops.
This loan is provided at a rate of 3 per cent annual. These credit cooperatives also offer seeds and other agricultural inputs to the farmers.
While Rs 21 crore has been distributed as agri loan in Raipur district, the amount stood at Rs 54 crore in Durg, Rs 14 crore in Mahasamund, Rs 16 crore in Rajanand and Rs 12 crore in Kabirdham.
Cooperative as a concept is hit in the states where the governments are serious about it. The Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh deserves kudos for ushering in the era of cooperative movement in the states.