Goa, 22 January 2026

 

The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), Goa Regional Office, organized the State Credit Seminar 2025–26 to unveil the State Focus Paper (SFP) 2026–27 at Patto, Panaji, on 22 January 2026.

The seminar was graced by Dr Pramod Sawant, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, as the Chief Guest, who also presided over the event and formally unveiled the State Focus Paper 2026–27.

Addressing the gathering, the Chief Minister appreciated NABARD’s practical and forward-looking credit roadmap covering priority sectors. He urged banks to proactively support high-value horticulture, plantation rejuvenation, organic farming clusters, precision agriculture and agri-tourism under the Goa Amrit Kaal Agriculture Policy 2025.

Highlighting 2026 as the International Year of Women Farmers, Dr Sawant called for focused institutional credit to women farmers, Self Help Groups and women-led agripreneurship, enabling their leadership across agricultural value chains. He also emphasized the need for convergence in fisheries, animal husbandry and MSME development, and special credit focus on the newly created Kushavati District.

The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the State Focus Paper 2026–27 would serve as a shared roadmap for all stakeholders to convert credit potential into productive assets, sustainable livelihoods and resilient rural infrastructure, aligned with the vision of Swayampurna Goem and Vikasit Goa 2037.

On the occasion, a booklet titled “Sahkar se Samriddhi – Inspiring Tales of Goa’s Cooperatives”, showcasing success stories of select cooperative societies, along with a short film on NABARD’s developmental initiatives in Goa, was also unveiled.

In recognition of the International Year of Women Farmers 2026, select progressive women farmers from Goa were felicitated for their exemplary contribution in organic and integrated farming, agri-processing and community-based agriculture.

Assistant General Manager Shri Vishwas Kadam gave a presentation on the State Focus Paper 2026–27 projecting a total Priority Sector credit potential of ₹16,512.53 crore, registering a 29 per cent increase over the previous year’s estimate of ₹12,803.53 crore.

The unveiling ceremony was attended by Dr V. Candavelou, Chief Secretary, Government of Goa; Shri Shakeel Ul Rehman Rather, Secretary (Co-operation), Government of Goa; Shri Sandeep Dharkar, General Manager & Officer-in-Charge, NABARD Goa Regional Office; Smt. Sandra Rodrigues, Deputy General Manager, RBI; and Shri Carlos Rodrigues, AGM, SBI and SLBC Convener, along with senior officials from banks, Government departments and development institutions.

Of the total credit potential:

• ₹5,159.10 crore (31.25%) is assessed for Agriculture and Allied Activities
• ₹10,800.06 crore (65.40%) for the MSME sector
• ₹553.37 crore (3.35%) for other Priority Sectors

The SFP consolidates district-wise credit potential assessments and serves as an important planning and policy tool for banks and the State Government in prioritizing investments and infrastructure development.

 

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PIB Panaji | Riyas Babu/Ambadas Yadav/Darshana Rane

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