PM assures of protecting interest of Kerala’s farmers

October 2nd, 2009 RAIPUR - Chhattisgarhs Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government Friday said is is planning to provide interest free loans to farmers. "The government plans to further lower the agriculture interest loan in the state to two percent and one percent in phase-wise manner from the existing three percent, and then reduce it to zero percent, Chief Minister Raman Singh said, according to an official press statement Friday.

September 15th, 2009 Senators call for more support to dairy farmersWASHINGTON — Flanked by a cow named Maggie — and six of his Senate colleagues — Sen. Bernie Sanders is calling for the House to pass an amendment increasing price supports to dairy farmers.

September 9th, 2009 LUCKNOW - A bank manager was held captive for nearly 12 hours in his office by farmers in an Uttar Pradesh village for allegedly demanding a bribe to issue their Kisan Credit Card (KCC), police said Wednesday. Angry farmers in Barsera village in Bareilly district Tuesday barged inside the office of a Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch manager.

July 19th, 2009 NEW DELHI - US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Sunday said farmers need financial security to prevent them committing suicide as has been happening in India, and stop them from drifting away from agriculture, like in the US. "Yeah, it (farmers' suicides) is a great concern.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that the target for the agriculture credit flow for the year 2009-10 is being set at Rs. 3,25,000 crore.

July 6th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The government has extended the debt relief scheme for farmers from June 30 to the end of the year, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee announced Monday. "The time given to the farmers having more than two hectares of land to pay 75 percent of their overdues under Debt Waiver and Debt Relief Scheme has been extended from June 30 to Dec 31, 2009," a government spokesperson announced.

May 9th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Election Commission Saturday assured the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that its decision to set up task forces to consider repolling in some areas of Bihar was in the interest of free and fair polls. An NDA delegation met the Commission and pointed out that 'the past practice has been to order repolls within a few days of the main poll, primarily on the recommendation of the observer and the returning officer' but this was the first time task forces were being set up to look into complaints of rigging a full 23 days after polling.

April 24th, 2009 RAJKOT - Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday slammed the Gujarat Government for dilly-dallying over advancing low interest loan to farmers. Sonia Gandhi termed the BJP-ruled State Government's attitude as pro-capitalist at the cost of the poor and rural folks.

April 17th, 2009 Vietnam announces stimulus plan to help farmersHANOI, Vietnam — Vietnam has announced an economic stimulus plan to help farmers who are among those worst affected by the global recession, the government said Saturday. Under the plan, farmers will have access to interest-free bank loans to buy farming tools and processing equipment, the government said on its Web site.

March 25th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Congress Tuesday promised it would enact a law to provide 25 kg of rice or wheat a month at Rs.3 per kg to families living below the poverty line (BPL) and expand schemes to improve the well being of farmers and their families. The Congress manifesto, released here by party president Sonia Gandhi, said: 'The Indian National Congress pledges that every family living below the poverty line either in rural or urban areas will be entitled, by law, to 25 kg of rice or wheat per month at Rs.3 per kg.' The manifesto also promises that subsidised community kitchens will be set up in all cities for homeless people and migrants with the support of the central government.

February 24th, 2009 NEW DELHI - The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Monday said it was closely monitoring the economic scenario and would take 'appropriate policy action as may be necessary'. RBI Governor Duwuri Subbarao Sunday met External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and 'assured him that the Reserve Bank is constantly monitoring the situation', a bank statement said.

February 15th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Claiming that the United Progressive Alliance government has given 'focussed attention' to farmers, Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee Monday said the plan outlay for the agriculture sector was hiked 300 percent between 2003-04 and 2008-09. Presenting the interim budget for 2009-10 in parliament, Mukherjee said the agriculture credit disbursement has also gone up to Rs.2.5 trillion (Rs.250,000 crore) last fiscal from Rs.870 billion in 2003-04.

February 12th, 2009 CHANDIGARH - Having declared 2009 as the 'Year of Farmers and Labourers', the Haryana government Friday announced a major concession for farmers of the state. Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced that a law in force which allowed the auction of land of farmers who were unable to pay back loans of banks would be repealed.

January 16th, 2009 THIRUVANANTHAPURAM - The Kerala government Saturday fixed the state's annual plan for the next fiscal at Rs.8,650 crore (Rs.80.65 billion). Chief Minister V.S.

January 12th, 2009 BHUBANESWAR - Farmers' leaders in Orissa Tuesday warned the state government against allowing use of Hirakud dam water for industrial purposes, neglecting irrigation. More than 10,000 farmers held two massive meetings in Sambalpur district near the Hirakud dam and said they are unhappy with the reported permissions the government has given recently to two big industries to draw water from the dam.