Kerala to provide interest free loan to farmers

Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 13 (UNI) Kerala Agriculture Minister Mullakara Ratanakaran today said the government will provide interest free loans and introduce free insurance scheme for farmers in the state.

Stating that the government had charted out various schemes for boosting paddy production in the state, he told reporters here that interest free loans would be provided to paddy cultivators in Palakkad, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur and Pathanamthitta districts.

In the first phase, the government's objective was to increase paddy production from the present six lakh tonne to 12 lakh tonne per year, he said adding 50,000 hectares more would be brought under paddy cultivation.

He also said 'Subhiksha Keralam', aimed at increasing the availability of agriculture products in the state would be commissioned this year.

UNI PN VV MP RAI1735