(a) the percentage of small and marginal farmers out of the total number of farmers in
the country;
(b) whether the small and marginal sections of farmers are being provided less than 30
percent of the total loans being disbursed for agriculture;
(c) if so, the details thereof including rural farmers; and
(d) if not, the percentage of loans extended to this section of farmers annually?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND MINISTER OF
STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC
DISTRIBUTION (PROF. K.V. THOMAS)
(a): As per the National Sample Survey Organisation (NSSO) data 59th round (2003),
percentage of marginal & small farmers are as under :
Category of holding %age of operational holding %age of operated area
Marginal Farmer 71 22.6
Small Farmer 16.6 20.9
(Rs. in crore) Year Total credit flow Credit flow to SF/MF % of SF/MF to Total Credit Flow
2007-08 254,657.45 89,858.51 35.28
2008-09 287,149.19 164,491.39 57.28