Govt to extend Rs 20,042 crore agrl loans: Minister

Vijayawada, July 21 (UNI) The Andhra Pradesh Government will extend agricultural loans to the tune of Rs 20,042 crore in the current fiscal, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy said today.

Speaking at a seminar on agriculture credit organised by commercial banks here, he said the government would increase the agriculture loans and it would be doubled in the next three years.

The interest rate on agriculture loans was reduced from 14 to seven per cent Mr Reddy added.

The government would conduct cloud seeding operations from August 15 at an estimated cost of Rs 15 crore. The operation, to be taken up in nine districts, would be entrusted to Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University (JNTU), he added.

UNI CS JJ 1736