Bhubaneswar: With the announcement of a special package of Rs 200 crore for the COVID-hit farmers by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik recently, the Odisha government will disburse Rs 9,000 crore agriculture loan this year.
“The state government has been providing Rs 50,000 agriculture loan to the farmers at zero per cent interest and upto Rs 3 lakh loan at 2 per cent interest since April 25. Loan to the tune of Rs 2,649 crore has been disbursed among 6.19 lakh farmers by May 31. The government has set the target to provide Rs 9,000 crore agriculture loan this year,” Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Cooperation, Vir Vikram Yadav told the media here on Tuesday.
He further said the procurement of Rabi paddy, which is underway in 17 districts with strict adherence to social distancing guidelines, will continue till June 30.