This paper has studied the pattern of repayment and overdues of co-operatives’ credit in Satara district of Maharashtra. The sample was of 90 farmers and the data were collected by survey method for the year 2005–06. The study has revealed that for the mounting overdues, low income was reported as the main reason by about 85 per cent farmers. More than 85 per cent farmers reported that they accrued additional income due to better use of credit, but they did not repay the loan. The problem of non-payment of loans, particularly by the willful defaulters will have to be tackled through appropriate legal action. There is also a need of optimum scale of financing on the basis of timely assessment of prevailing prices. For efficient recovery of loans, special recovery units may be created at the district or tahsil level.
Cooperatives’ credit, overdues, loan repayment, defaulters, Maharashtra
