Odisha CM launches common credit portal ‘SAFAL’ for farmers

Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today launched common credit portal ‘SAFAL’ for farmers.

SAFAL is a simplified application for agricultural loans and it is the country’s first online agricultural credit facilitation portal, sources said.

The Chief Minister said the application can revolutionise credit provisions for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs while launching the portal on virtual mode.

“The application is a one-stop-solution for farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to avail credit from public and private sector banks, regional rural banks, state cooperative banks and small finance banks,” said the Chief Minister.

With this facility, the farmers and agri-entrepreneurs will have access to more than 300 term loan products being offered by 40 plus partner banks, he added.

“The portal has been integrated with Krushak Odisha as well as the access to 70 plus model project reports. It will ease the loan application process benefiting both the farmers and banks significantly. The portal will also reduce information asymmetry by sending farmers real-time notifications at every stage of their loan application,” said the Chief Minister.

He further said SAFAL will also provide the government with complete visibility of demand and disbursal of formal credit across state and ensure schemes are designed in a data-backed manner.

He hoped that SAFAL would be a facilitator of credit to spur the agriculture and allied sectors in Odisha and would increase the economic prowess of farmers in the long run.

The Chief Minister further said farmers are the backbone of our economy and agriculture is the largest employer in the state.

“My government, therefore, lays special emphasis on the development of farming sector through various interventions supported by a comprehensive and inclusive state agricultural policy with the government taking strides in increasing the income of farmers,” said the Chief Minister.

Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari appreciated the Chief Minister’s vision for empowerment of farmers in Odisha.

Speaking on the occasion, Agriculture and Farmers’ Empowerment Minister Ranendra Pratap Swain outlined the steps taken by his department for economic development and welfare of farmers.

Agriculture Production Commissioner-cum-Additional Chief Secretary Sanjeev Chopra highlighted the achievement of Odisha in the agriculture sector.

CEO of RBI Innovation Hub and CMD of UCO Bank also spoke on the occasion. Principal Secretary to Agriculture department Arabinda Padhi gave the welcome address and Commissioner-cum-Secretary of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (FARD) department offered the vote of thanks.

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