Bhubaneswar, Sep 20 (PTI) Strengthening of IT infrastructure of cooperative banks, enhancement of agriculture term loans and diversification of credit portfolio are important factors to make them relevant and sustainable on a long term basis, Nabard chairman G R Chintala said on Monday. <br> National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development chief visited Odisha State Cooperative Bank and addressed CEOs of all the rural district central cooperative banks in the state.<br> Chintala focused on increasing the share of cooperative banks in agricultural lending.<br> He inaugurated a workshop-cum-strategy meeting in Bhubaneswar during the day and advised the participants to facilitate more rural entrepreneurs to establish and upscale their businesses, according to a statement.<br> He highlighted that women entrepreneurs have been provided credits by Annapurna Finance, an NBFC, supported by Nabard.<br> The meeting of the lender's micro-credit innovations department was attended by its officials from 15 states.<br> He also inaugurated a business diversification and product innovation cell established at Odisha State Cooperative Bank.<br> Meanwhile, state Finance Minister Niranjan Pujari and the principal secretary (Finance) held a meeting with the Nabard chief.<br> They discussed about the status of various financial institutions in the state, the statement said, adding that Nabard chief assured them of cooperation to the state government for building a healthy financial ecosystem.<br> Later in the day, the regional office of the developmental bank in Odisha organised a conclave on farm sector initiatives in the state.<br> Chintala launched various projects for farmers belonging to tribal communities and members of women self-help groups.<br> He handed over sanction letters to the project implementing agencies in tribal-dominated districts of Mayurbhanj and Gajpati district.<br> Chintala also rolled out a dedicated project on production and market-linkage of sweet potato at Pottangi in Koraput and said it will help farmers to diversify their products. PTI HMB<br>BDC BDC