Indebtedness of farmers: a study of farmer borrowers of primary agriculctural credit societies in Palakkad district of Kerala state

Abstract

The study entitled “Indebtedness of farmers: A study of farmers borrowers of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies in Palakkad District was conducted to examine the factors that contribute to the problems of indebtedness among the farmers in Palakkad District and to suggest the measures to be taken to solve the problems. The study was conducted among two PACS of Palakkad District viz., Peruvemba Service Co-operative Bank (PACS 1) and Polpully Service Co-operative Bank (PACS 2). The sample size included 90 respondents i.e., 45 borrowers from each PACS at random, of which 76.67 per cent were defaulters and rest were nondefaulters. Ten officials (including President and Secretary) from each PACS were also interviewed to collect information on the effectiveness of the loan operation system of the PACS. Secondary data on selected performance indicators of the PACS were also used for the study. Statistical tools like Average Annual Growth Rate (AAGR), simple averages, percentages, simple growth rate, simple correlation, efficiency index, priority index and bi-variate tables were used for the analysis. The analysis revealed that inadequacy of income, natural calamities and crop failures, non availability of labourers and high wages were the main reasons for indebtedness. Faith in loan waiver or write off policy, non institutional loan and high interest rate, defective loan policies, illness of borrower or family members, ceremonies, fixation of unrealistic due and lack of access to consumption loans and diversification of income have also been pointed out as reasons behind increasing indebtedness of farmers. The study revealed that procedural delays, lack of adequate securities to hypothecate, misutilisation of loans and inadequate income restricted the borrowers from getting timely loans. It was further observed that defective loaning policy, conspicuous consumption and illness of family members as well as hope for loan write-off policy were the other reasons behind non-repayment by borrowers. Majority of the defaulters opined that the loan amount provided by PACS were insufficient to meet the project cost there by forcing the borrowers to approach other sources for finance. This inturn puts an additional burden on farmers. From the interbank comparison on the effectiveness of the present loan operation system, it was found that the loan operation system of PACS (1) is least efficient and in the case of PACS (2) it is moderately efficient. The overall performance of PACS, commitment of BODs, management, member relations, intrabank relations were appreciable. But in the opinion of the bank officials, Presidents and Secretaries there was something more to be perfected in the existing loan operation system. According to the officials and employees of PACS, the reasons for indebtedness include natural calamities, high cost of cultivation, insufficient income from agriculture, non availability of labourers etc. The mounting overdues affecting the net profit position of PACS. Misutilisation of loan due to inadequate staff for field supervision and loan appraisal was yet another problem as far as the PACS were concerned. The effectiveness of any scheme to a greater extent is correlated to the number of visits made by the bank officials to the beneficiaries. There exist a drastic need for skilled personnel for field supervision and loan appraisal. It is obvious that co-operatives are still following traditional methods and techniques of management, which has to be replaced by modern measures of management and accounting.