Govt to extend Rs 20,000 crore agricultural loan: AP CM

Hyderabad,July 30 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today said the Government would extend agricultural loans worth Rs 20,000 crore for the current financial year with a view to assist farmers in the State.

Reviewing the amount of rain and its influence in the State with senior officials, he said the timely monsoon reduced the agricultural loss upto 60 per cent.

Dr Reddy said the Government had decided to povide new agricultural loans to five lakh farmers including 1.5 lakh tenant farmers in the State.

Claiming that his Government had Rs 11,946 crore as agricultural loans in its first year in power, he said it was increased to Rs 15,980 crore, last year.

The agricultural production had increased to 178.06 metric tonne during 2005-06 as against 133.94 in 2004-05, he added UNI BR JJ RP RK1845