Amaravati, June 19 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Friday urged bankers to extend their cooperation to facilitate economic activities across the state

The Chief Minister chaired the 235th State Level Bankers’ Committee (SLBC) meeting held at the Secretariat.

The meeting discussed the Annual Credit Plan for 2026-27 and reviewed the credit extended to the agriculture sector, MSMEs, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and tenant farmers

Banks reported extending loans worth Rs 3,86,249 crore to the agriculture sector in 2025-26. They informed the Chief Minister that loans worth Rs 1,17,357 crore were given to the MSME sector and Rs 5,19,693 crore to the priority sector.

Bankers noted that credit disbursement in Andhra Pradesh stands at 137 per cent higher compared to other South Indian states.

Chief Secretary Sai Prasad, Union Bank of India MD & CEO Ashish Pande, Union Finance Ministry Director Neelam Agarwal, RBI Regional Director AO Basheer, NABARD GM KVS Prasad, and others attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu will release Rs 3,125.47 crore under Annadata Sukhibhava–PM Kisan scheme from Linganguntla village in Chilakaluripet Mandal of Palnadu district on Saturday, benefiting a total of 46,85,838 farmers.

The beneficiaries include 45,69,817 land-owning farmer families and 1,16,021 RoFR (Recognition of Forest Rights) farmer families cultivating land under the Forest Rights Act.

During the previous year, the Government distributed Rs 8,985.41 crore under the scheme, including Rs 6,560.18 crore from the State Government and Rs 2,425.23 crore from the Central Government.

Implemented as part of the Super Six promises, the scheme provides financial assistance of Rs 20,000 annually to every eligible farmer family. The State Government contributes Rs 14,000, while the Central Government provides Rs 6,000 through the PM-Kisan scheme. The assistance is disbursed in three instalments by the State and Central Governments.

As part of the first instalment for this year, the State Government will provide Rs 5,000 and the Central Government Rs 2,000 under PM-Kisan, resulting in a total credit of Rs 7,000 to each eligible farmer’s account.

–IANS

ms/uk