Cooperative loans will be given to 37 lakh farmers: Karnataka Chief Minister

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday reviewed the progress of the Cooperation Department and said farm loans of ₹28,000 crore would be disbursed to 37 lakh farmers in 2025-26.

He said ₹8,362.68 crore has been disbursed to 8,69,284 farmers as on July 31, 2025.

Noting that NABARD has reduced the concessional interest rate loan limit from ₹5,600 crore in 2024-25 to ₹3,236.11 crore in 2025-26, the Chief Minister said 96.07% progress has been made in loan disbursement.

In the financial year 2024-25, agricultural loans amounting to ₹25,939.09 crore had been disbursed to 29,75,598 farmers.

He said 28,516 cooperative societies in the State have been making profit, while 14,670 have become financially bankrupt. Out of these, 2,200 milk producers’ associations have become financially bankrupt.

This is the first meeting of the Cooperative Department after K.N. Rajanna was sacked.

The Department of Registrar of Cooperative Societies (DRCS) has been investigating irregularities in the Kannada Sahitya Parishat and the investigation is under way, the Chief Minister said.

“There have been complaints about the parishat cancelling memberships,” the Chief Minister said and instructed officials to take action as per law.