K'taka Govt. to distribute Rs 1500 cr farm loans for Kharif crops

Bangalore, May 24 (UNI) Karnataka Government will provide Rs 1500 crore towards agriculture loans to farmers for the coming Kharif season, Cooperation Minister G T Devegowda announced today.

Speaking to newsmen here he said the officials had already recovered Rs 725 crore from the farmers across the state and the recovery percentage was likely to speed up in the coming days. The government had already provided Rs 2440 crore during 2006-07 to farmers under various categories of crop loans.

He said as assured, the government had waived short term loan and interest of 6.39 lakh farmers amounting to Rs 942 crore availed between Jan 1, 2006 and December 31,2006. Over four lakh farmers had availed over Rs 25,000 crop loan amounting to Rs 1055 crore.

Those who had already repaid their loans would be given fixed deposit certificates carrying an interest four per cent that could be redeemed after three years.

Replying to queries he said the loan facility was also available to fishermen and weavers across the state.

He said under Yeshaswini healthcare programme, over 3.40 lakh farmers had been treated as outpatients and 34,236 had undergone surgery for various ailments. Over 18.70 lakh farmers had registered under the scheme, he added.

UNI