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Our Bureau

Pune, March 6 About 50 lakh small and marginal farmers in Maharashtra are expected to benefit from the loan waiver that the Union Finance Minister has stated in his Budget.

The Finance Minister has set aside Rs 60,000 crore as loan waiver and of this Maharashtra is expected to receive Rs 13,000 crore, Dr Patangrao Kadam, State Minister for Co-operation, Relief and Rehabilitation.

Talking to presspersons, Dr Kadam noted that of this about 35 lakh farmers held land, which was less than two hectares while the remaining 15 lakh had land above two hectares. Out of the total Rs 13,000 crore, about Rs 11,000 crore would have to be distributed among the farmers who fell under the two hectare land category, while the rest would be for the other category and they would be eligible for 25 per cent waiver, which would be a one- time relief and would have to repay the 75 per cent.

Dr Kadam said the process of evaluation is on and the figures mentioned are only tentative. A clearer picture is expected to be out within the next few days.

He said a request that the ambit of beneficiaries be extended to farmers with 15 acres of land has been made. “Many of the farmers had accounts in various segments and hence the farmer figures could touch 70 lakh; besides there may be upto 120 lakh holdings,” Dr Kadam pointed out. He noted that the evaluations of loans till March 2007 in all district banks, credit societies, financial institutions, urban bank, Rajya Sahakari Bank were also on.

More Stories on : Budget | Farm credit | Maharashtra

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