BALARAM - Bhoomihina Agriculturist Loan and Resources Augmentation Model

Why it matters

Gives landless farmers, who cannot get normal bank loans due to having no land, access to institutional credit through small joint groups instead of costly informal moneylenders.

What you get

BALARAM is India's first dedicated institutional credit scheme targeted specifically at landless farmers, formulated by the Department of Agriculture & Farmers' Empowerment. Landless cultivators are organised into Joint Liability Groups (JLGs) of five members each, which collectively access bank credit of up to Rs 1.60 lakh per group, reducing their dependence on informal high-interest moneylenders. The state earmarked credit worth Rs 1,040 crore for around 7 lakh landless farmers over the scheme period. Implementation is coordinated by IMAGE (Integrated Mission for Agricultural Growth and Empowerment) at the state level and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at the district/regional level.

Eligibility criteria

• Resident of Odisha and farmer by profession
• Does not own any agricultural land (landless cultivator/sharecropper)
• Willingness to join a 5-member Joint Liability Group (JLG)

How to apply

1. 1

   Form or join a Joint Liability Group of 5 landless farmers in the village

2. 2

   Group registers with the local ATMA/Agriculture office

3. 3

   Bank credit sanctioned to the JLG against the group guarantee

4. 4

   Funds used for agricultural inputs and activities as per group plan

Documents required

• Landless farmer/sharecropper certificate from village authority
• JLG formation document
• Aadhaar and bank account details of all group members