As per the common minimum programme announced by the Hon'ble Prime Minister during 1996-97 and the agricultural policy of the State Government for doubling the agricultural production, a drive was under taken by the Cooperation Department to improve the production Credit disbursement. As a result, as against only Rs.73 crores of crop loan financed by cooperatives during 1993-94, the Cooperative Banks have been able to disburse 426.24 crores by the year ending 1999-2000, as against crop loan of Rs. 168.54 crores financed by all the Commercial Banks and RRBs during the year. The share of cooperative Banks in the production credit is, therefore, 72% of the total institutional finance during the year 1999-2000. Similarly, as against about 1,56 lakhs of fertilizer distributed by the cooperative structure during 1995-96, 2.57% lakh M.T. of fertilizer has been disbursed during the year 1999-2000 which is about 30% of the total fertilizer distributed  in the State.

(ii) Kissan Credit Card

Since availing crop loan from the cooperatives was consuming more than a month's time due to different paraphernalia at Primary, Central and Apex Bank level and since there was often harassment of different types to the loanees, the Cooperative Banks in  the State have implemented a system of issuing Kissan Credit Cards to the farmers as per recommendation of the RBI, NABARD, Government of India and as approved by the State Government. Under this scheme, the card indicates the drawal limits for both khariff and Rabi seasons for 3 years in respect of card holder and the card holder can draw his required amount in part or in full by production of cheque in the branches of the Central Coop. Banks.The card holders therefore need not have to run to the society time and again to draw his required amounts during agricultural operations particularly. He is now free to draw amounts, within the ceiling as and when he needs and thereby he saves interest. Moreover, he would not like to become a defaulter in repayment of loan as that would render his credit card useless. By 30.06.2000, 6.98 lakhs cards have been distributed by the Cooperative Banks and Orissa stood 3^rd in the Country in implementing the above scheme during 1999-2000.

 (iii)CropInsurance

The Department has been implementing crop insurance scheme floated by Government of India since inception i.e. khariff-1985 season. Orissa is the only State in the Country where the "unit area" for crop insurance has been brought down to the level of Gram Panchayats as far as paddy crop is concerned. Under the comprehensive crop Insurance Scheme which has started in the year 1985-86 and ended in September, 1999, Rs. 176.51 crores  has been disbursed as compensation to 12.59 lakhs farmers. The Department has been implementing the National Agricultural Insurance Scheme (NAIS) otherwise known as Rastriya Krushi Bima Yojona (RKBY) since  Rabi 1999 season. Under this new scheme, the non-loanee farmers are also covered and insurance coverage is available for commercial and horticultural crop like sugarcane, cotton, potato etc.