BALARAM — Bhoomihina Agriculturist Loan and Resources Augmentation Model
Bank credit up to ₹1.6 lakh per Joint Liability Group for landless farmers and sharecroppers — no land title needed.
Run by: Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment, Government of Odisha
- Loan per JLG
- Up to ₹1.6 lakh / season
- JLG size
- 5–7 landless farmers
- Target
- 7 lakh farmers, ₹1,040 Cr credit
- Launched
- 3 July 2020
Overview
Sharecroppers and oral lessees farm roughly a third of Odisha’s cultivated area, yet most have no land document and therefore no access to institutional crop loans. BALARAM — Bhoomihina Agriculturist Loan and Resources Augmentation Model — was launched on 3 July 2020 specifically to close this gap. It is the first state scheme in India designed exclusively around landless cultivators’ credit needs.
The mechanism is the Joint Liability Group (JLG): five to seven landless farmers form a group, and the group — not a land title — becomes the collateral against which a bank extends a crop loan of up to ₹1.6 lakh per JLG per crop season. The scheme was designed in collaboration with NABARD and the State Level Bankers’ Committee. The target at launch was to form 1.4 lakh JLGs covering 7 lakh landless farmers and channel ₹1,040 crore of bank credit over two years.
Implementation runs through two agencies: the Institute on Management of Agricultural Extension (IMAGE) at the state level and the Agricultural Technology Management Agency (ATMA) at the district level. Krushak Sathis — grassroots agriculture facilitators posted at the Gram Panchayat level by the Department — identify eligible sharecroppers, facilitate JLG formation, and connect the groups to banks. The existing KALIA database of farmer records, cross-verified by Gram Sabhas, serves as the identification backbone.
What you get
The benefit as the state notifies it — nothing here is an estimate.
- Crop loan up to ₹1.6 lakh per Joint Liability Group per season — no land title or mortgage needed.
- Group-based lending: the JLG itself is the collateral, so a landless farmer can access bank credit for the first time.
- Training and hand-holding through Krushak Sathis at the village level and ATMA at the district level.
- Builds a formal credit history for sharecroppers, improving access to other banking services over time.
Who is eligible
State schemes usually state their criteria as prose rather than a checklist. This is that prose, unpacked — the department’s verification is what decides.
You qualify if
- Landless farmer, sharecropper or oral lessee cultivating land in Odisha
- Identified and verified through the KALIA database or Gram Sabha verification
- Willing to form or join a Joint Liability Group of 5–7 members
- Not a defaulter on any existing bank loan
Not covered
- Farmers who own cultivable land (they can access regular KCC credit)
- Existing bank-loan defaulters
Documents you need
Have these ready before you start — most rejections are a missing paper, not a missing right.
- Aadhaar card
- Bank account passbook
- KALIA beneficiary ID (if available)
- Gram Sabha verification of sharecropper / oral lessee status
How to apply
Fewer steps than a central scheme, and usually one office rather than a portal.
- 1
Identification by Krushak Sathi
The Gram Panchayat-level Krushak Sathi identifies eligible landless farmers and sharecroppers using the KALIA database and Gram Sabha verification.
- 2
JLG formation
Five to seven eligible farmers form a Joint Liability Group. The Krushak Sathi and ATMA staff help with group formation and documentation.
- 3
Bank linkage and loan sanction
The JLG is linked to a participating bank branch. The bank appraises the group and sanctions a crop loan of up to ₹1.6 lakh per season.
If something goes wrong
Missing from the list, or payment stuck — here is the channel the department itself publishes for it.
- For delays in JLG formation, bank-linkage problems or a sanctioned loan not disbursed, take it up with the Block Agriculture Officer and the District ATMA office. The Department of Agriculture & Farmers’ Empowerment can be reached at agri.odisha.gov.in.
- Beyond the department, use the Odisha E-Abhijoga (CM Grievance Cell) at cmgcodisha.gov.in — available 24×7 with a first response within 24 hours, and trackable. Janasunani (janasunani.odisha.gov.in) is an additional grievance channel.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a land document to get this loan?
No. That is the whole point of BALARAM. The Joint Liability Group acts as the collateral instead of a land title. Sharecroppers and oral lessees who have no land papers are the primary target.
How is a JLG different from an SHG?
A Self-Help Group (SHG) pools savings first and then borrows; a JLG does not require prior savings. JLG members guarantee each other’s loans — joint liability — so the bank lends to the group as a unit.
What is the interest rate on the loan?
The loan is extended at the prevailing crop-loan interest rate set by the bank. Eligible farmers also get the benefit of the central government’s interest subvention on short-term crop loans (effective rate can be as low as 4% with prompt repayment).
Can I join a JLG if I am already a KALIA beneficiary?
Yes. The KALIA database is in fact used to identify eligible landless farmers for BALARAM. Being a KALIA beneficiary supports your eligibility.
How many members does a JLG need?
A minimum of five members. The operational guidelines allow up to seven members per group. All members must be landless farmers or sharecroppers.
What happens if one member cannot repay?
The other members of the JLG are jointly liable — they are expected to cover the shortfall. This mutual guarantee is what replaces the land collateral.
Is the scheme still running?
Yes. BALARAM was launched in July 2020 and continues to operate. JLG formation and bank linkage are ongoing through ATMA and Krushak Sathis across Odisha’s districts.
Facts checked against agri.odisha.gov.in on 26 September 2026. editorial policy.