After Women SHGs, farmers to get ''Pavala Vadi''

Hyderabad, July 5 (UNI) After Women's Self Help Groups, who have been provided bank linkages at a low interest rate of three per cent (Pavala Vadi) in Andhra Pradesh, in keeping with the ruling Congress Party's poll promise, farmers in the state are all likely to get farm loans at ''Pavala Vaddi''.

''I am relentlessly fighting with the Centre for reducing the interest rate on farm loans to three per cent and with your good wishes, I am confident that this will soon become a reality,'' the Chief Minister,Y S Rajashekhara Reddy said, amid huge applause, while addressing a farmers convention organised by the party Kisan Cell to highlight the achievements of the ruling Congress and gear up for the 2009 Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections.

After the UPA Government assumed office, the rate of interest on farm loans was first reduced to nine per cent and then to seven per cent, Mr Reddy noted adding the rate should be further reduced to three per cent to make farming remunerative and prevent the farmers from commiting suicide.

The Chief Minister wanted the Centre to put back into practice the differential rate of interest scheme introduced during the Indira Gandhi Regime.

Pointing out farmers in Andhra Pradesh were prone to take more risk, he advised them to cultivate only those crops for which Minimum Support Price(MSP) was fixed by the Centre and involve themselves in allied activities like cattle and fish breeding and sheep rearing to augument their income.

As many as 1.32 lakh heads of hybrid milch cattle were imported this year by the government for the benefit of farmers and their number would be increased manyfold next year, he added.

UNI