Tk 5,000Cr loan package for farmers: PM

The government on Sunday announced a Tk 5,000 crore stimulus package for farmers to tackle the adverse impacts of the coronavirus outbreak.

Under the package, farmers will get loan at five per cent interest rate, said prime minister Sheikh Hasina while announcing the stimulus at a video conference with public officials of Khulna and Barishal divisions from Ganabhaban.

She also said that the package was announced with the aim at addressing suffering of farmers; fisheries, dairy and poultry raisers; and fruits growers.

With this, the PM announced a series of stimulus packages since the enforcement of nationwide shutdown to ensure social distancing, most suitable means to check the spread of the virus in absence any proven vaccine.

In previous stimulus packages, the government has facilitated Tk 5,000 crore loan to exportoriented businesses at two per cent service charge and Tk 20,000 crore loan to small and medium enterprises at 4 per cent interest rate.

Another loan package worth Tk 3,0000 crore was announced for big industries and service sectors at five per cent interest rate.

Indicating upcoming Boro harvest, the PM said the food ministry would procure more paddy this season to ensure fair price of the crop.

Last season, the government faced serious criticisms for failing to ensure fair price of paddy.

The PM said that the government would provide Tk 100 crore more to the agriculture ministry for mechanising the harvest.

Besides, she promised that Tk 150 crore would be sanctioned for seedlings and tree planting.

She said that Tk 9,000 crore would be kept aside for providing subsidy on fertilisers.

Fearing food shortage globally due to the corona pandemic, the PM urged the farmers not to keep an inch of cultivable land fallow and grow higher food.

Only optimum production of the agricultural outputs could help the country to maintain food security, she said.

The surplus food can be exported, she added.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net