Kolkata, Feb 10 (IANS) West Bengal expects to achieve a growth of 35 percent in loans to farm and small scale sectors in the current fiscal, state Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta said here Wednesday.
“We recently met officials of commercial banks. They have assured us that a growth of 35 percent is achievable during the current financial year,” Dasgupta told reporters on the sidelines of a seminar on state credit.

According to estimates of National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development released Wednesday, agriculture loan disbursal in West Bengal in 2009-10 is projected at Rs.9,005 crore, which is expected to grow 20 percent in 2010-11 to Rs.10,780 crore.

“Considering current year’s likely growth rate of 35 percent, we need to revise next year’s projection,” Dasgupta said.

West Bengal’s total priority sector lending is projected at Rs.18,101 crore in 2009-10, which is expected to grow by 19 percent to Rs.21,567 crore, according to Nabard estimates.