Awareness of institutional credit and insurance programmes in Uttarakhand

RUCHI RAWAT, S. K. TEWARI and A. N. SHUKLA

Department of Agricultural Economics,

College of Agriculture,

 G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology,

 Pantnagar – 263 145 (U.S. Nagar, Uttarakhand)

ABSTRACT

The study conducted in Chamba block of Tehri Garhwal district and Takula block of Almora district in Uttarakhand was based on data collected from 130 farmers for the agricultural year 2000-01 to 2005-06. The study aims at examining the extent of non-participation of farmers in formal agricultural credit and insurance programmes. Extent of non-participation in credit programme in Garhwal region (63.14 per cent) was found to be lower than in Kumaon region (70.37 per cent). Overall 67 per cent farmers were still out of fold of institutional credit programme. In the Garhwal region, around 50 per cent farmers were without any insurance while in Garhwal region this per centage was 46.15 per cent. Lack of awareness, complicated procedure, untimely assistance, improper input supply system and risk are reported to be major reasons for non-participation in institutional agricultural credit and insurance programmes.