Waiver of loans extended to horticulture, animal husbandry in J

New Delhi, Mar 3 (UNI) Agricultural loan waiver scheme announced in the 2008-09 Union budget will be extended in election-bound Jammu and Kashmir to horticulture, animal husbandry and other sectors, including the loans disbursed by institutions.

Union Water Resources Minister and JKPC chief Saifuddin Soz was given an assurance to this effect by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar during a meeting today.

Prof Soz also discussed the extension of waiver to small and marginal farmers in the state, an official statement said.

''The same concessions would be extended in respect of waiving of loans in horticulture, animal husbandry and other similar sectors in Jammu and Kashmir, including the loans disbursed by institutions like National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development Bank,'' it said.

Prof Soz will visit Jammu on March 5 to address a joint rally with state Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad of party workers, small and marginal farmers.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram announced Rs 60,000 crore loans waiver for farmers in the Union Budget 2008-09 presented on February 29.

Assembly elections in the state, where the Congress and the PDP have a coalition government, are scheduled to be held this year.

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