Tk 8.23b fund formed for marginal farmers

The government has formed a fund of Tk 8.23 billion (823 crore) with financial assistance of JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) to provide loans to small and marginal farmers at a low interest, reports BSS.
The loan would be disbursed through micro-credit financing agencies (NGOs), said an official of the Banks and Financial Institutions Division under the Ministry of Finance.
Bangladesh Bank (BB) has been entrusted with the job of implementing it.
Of the total fund, the JICA has given Tk 7.56 billion in loan assistance while the BB would contribute the remaining Tk 670 million (67 crore) from own sources.
The official said the scheme had been taken to boost productivity and diversity in the agriculture sector.
The farmers who are normally deprived of institutional loans would get assistance on a priority basis from the fund, he added.
He, however, said how many farmers would get the loans was yet to be finalised.