Loan waiver to provide relief to farmers: Thorat

Nashik, Mar 1 (UNI) Maharashtra Agriculture Minister Balasaheb Thorat today said the decision of loan waiver announced in the Union Budget 2008-09 would provide relief to farmers.

''Overall the budget is a good one and the decision of Rs 60,000 crore waiver of loan will provide relief to the farmers,'' Mr Thorat told UNI after inaugurating the Indian Chamber of Agriculture here.

The provision for the money would be made and the state might also have to bear some share in it but the details were not available, he added.

Regarding the issue of Vidarbha farmers not getting the expected benefit from the loan waiver provision, Mr Thorat said even Vidarbha farmers would benefit from the scheme.

On being asked whether there would be any specific provision for onion and grape farmers in the district in the coming State Budget, Mr Thorat said, ''We help farmers facing problem but there is no possibility of such a separate package for grape and onion farmers at present.'' UNI GB NM MS KN1637