Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Urges Bankers to Boost Economic Activities

Amaravati, June 19: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu urged bankers on Friday to collaborate in facilitating economic activities across the state. He chaired the 235th State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting held at the Secretariat.

The meeting focused on discussing the annual credit plan for 2026-27 and reviewing loans provided to the agriculture sector, MSMEs, self-help groups (SHGs), and tenant farmers.

Bank representatives reported that they extended loans amounting to ₹3,86,249 crores to the agriculture sector in 2025-26. They informed the Chief Minister that the MSME sector received ₹1,17,357 crores, while priority sectors were allocated ₹5,19,693 crores. Notably, loan distribution in Andhra Pradesh is 137% higher compared to other southern states.

Key attendees included Chief Secretary Sai Prasad, Union Bank of India MD and CEO Ashish Pandey, Director Neelam Agarwal from the Ministry of Finance, RBI Regional Director A.O. Bashir, NABARD GM K.V.S. Prasad, among others.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naidu will launch ₹3,125.47 crores from the ‘Annadata Sukhibhava-PM Kisan’ scheme on Saturday from Lingaguntla village in the Chilakaluripet Mandal of Palnadu district. This initiative will benefit a total of 46,85,838 farmers.

The beneficiaries comprise 45,69,817 land-owning farmer families and 1,16,021 farmers under the Recognition of Forest Rights (RFR) Act who cultivate land.

Last year, the government distributed ₹8,985.41 crores under this scheme, which included ₹6,560.18 crores from the state government and ₹2,425.23 crores from the central government.

Initiated under the ‘Super Six’ promises, this scheme provides annual financial assistance of ₹20,000 to each eligible farmer family. The state government contributes ₹14,000, while the central government provides ₹6,000 under the PM-Kisan scheme. This assistance is disbursed in three installments by both state and central governments.

As part of this year’s first installment, the state government will provide ₹5,000, and the central government will contribute ₹2,000 under the PM-Kisan scheme, totaling ₹7,000 credited to each eligible farmer’s account.