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Give enough loan to Boro farmers

Banks asked

Staff Correspondent
Bangladesh Bank yesterday directed the banks to provide adequate loans to farmers during the Boro season.
The directive came at a review meeting between the central bank and eight public sector banks, who distribute 80 percent of the total agricultural loans.
The BB directive followed the recent government decision to slash fertiliser and diesel prices.
At the meeting Bangladesh Bank Deputy Governor Nazrul HUda directed the banks to give 4tdck arid hassle-free Idans to farmers so that they do not face any financial problems in buying agricultural inputs including fertilisers and seeds.
Huda told managing directors of the banks to monitor proper distribution of loans at the field level. He said Bangladesh Bank would monitor their progress.
After the meeting, Huda told reporters that boro is an inputdependent crop. He said the government has already lowered the price of inputs including fertilisers and diesel. Coordinated efforts are required to ensure loans for irrigation, fertiliser and seeds to the farmer.
In the current fiscal year eight public financial institutions and private commercial banlcs are to distribute Tk 9,379 crore in agricultural loans.
In the first six months till December, 2008 of this fiscal year, 45
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percent or Tk 4,228 crore in loans has already been distributed, according to the review report Bangladesh Bank placed in the meeting.
The eight financial institutions have disbursed Tk 3,335 crore or 45.49 percent of their target ofTk 7,331 crore.
Private commercial banks disbursed Tk 893 crore or 43.61 percent of their target of Tk 2,048 crore.
Earlier, Bangladesh Bank asked the banks to provide loan facilities to the farmers against three-year-long revolving credit line. It also directed the banks to give loans to the landless and sharecroppers.
Yesterday's meeting was informed that 60,000 farmers have been given revolvingcredit line facility. However, no information was available on distribution of loan to sharecroppers.
However, the five foreign banks did not disburse any agricultural loans and 12 private commercial banks disbursed agricultural loans between Tk 1 crore and Tk 3 crore each. Bangladesh Bank expressed dissatisfaction at this.
Huda said in future target would b,e fixed for the banks thatdo not disburse agricultural loans and there is no legal bar to making them disburse the loans.