63 lakh loans worth ₹86,600 crore approved in agriculture in last two months

New Delhi: The union government has been providing liquidity support for farmers and rural economy over the last two months through banks, Kisan credit cards and interest subvention schemes, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Thursday while addressing a press conference on economic package related to migrant labourers, small farmers, and street vendors.

From March 1 to April 30, the government has approved 63 lakh loans worth Rs 86,600 crore in the agriculture sector while refinancing of Rs 29,500 crore has been provided by NABARD to cooperative banks and regional rural banks in March, she said.

Further, support of Rs 4,200 crore has been provided under Rural Infrastructure Development Fund to States during March for rural infrastructure.

Working capital limit of Rs 6,700 crore has been sanctioned for procurement of agriculture produce of state government entities since March, Sitharaman said.

“The central government has permitted state governments to utilize SDRF for setting up shelter for migrants and providing them food and water etc... We are conscious, we are attending to the migrants and giving them in various different ways,” Sitharaman added.