The government has distributed agricultural loan of Tk 50 billion among the farmers through the commercial banks for farming and processing various agricultural crops including spices, pulses, corns and oil seeds in the current fiscal year.

Bangladesh Bank has taken initiatives to distribute the loans at an interest rate of 2 percent as per the government’s decision, sources at the central bank said.

Of the total amount of the loans, Sonali Bank distributed Tk 9 crore 42 lakh, Janata Bank Tk 10 crore, Agrani Bank Tk 11 crore 64 lakh, Bangladesh Krishi Bank Tk 14 crore 64 lakh and Rajshahi Krishi Unnayan Bank Tk 3 crore 51 lakh and Rupali Bank Tk 21 lakh respectively.

The commercial banks are also providing loans for cultivating import-reliant agricultural crops at the same interest rate in 2010-2011.

News: Daily Sun/ Bangladesh/ Mar-19-2011