Crop loans on easy terms not that easy to draw

Sharecroppers of the district have been facing harassment in getting crop loans from the state-owned banks allegedly due to non-cooperation of the landowners and bank officials.
Although the government announced soft loans for sharecroppers on easy terms and conditions many sharecroppers are not getting the loans due to various complications.
Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank (Rakub) disbursed Tk 18 lakh while Sonali and Agrani Bank Tk 7 lakh as crop loans among the farmers of the district since November last year.
Only 204 sharecroppers got loans from Rakub during this period while 314 received loans from Sonali Bank in Thakurgaon and Panchagarh districts.
An official of Sonali Bank said sharecroppers who have 17 percent land of his own are eligible to get the loans.
On the other hand, Rakub gives loan to those sharecroppers who have 50 percent land of their own.
Sharecroppers alleged that they have been facing problems due to various complicated rules and regulations in getting loans from different banks.
Besides, many sharecroppers are not getting loans as the landowners are not cooperating with them in receiving the loans, they said.
The signature of the landowners is needed for getting loans of the sharecroppers as their guarantor but in most cases landowners are showing reluctance to extend their cooperation.
Sources said Janata Bank disbursed crop loans of Tk 1.75 crore while Agrani Bank disbursed Tk 4.55 lakh during this period.
Many sharecroppers alleged that they got loans by bribing bank officials and CBA leaders.