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Title: Need to waive off the interest on agricultural loans given to potato growers whose crops have been affected due to heavy rainfall in West Bengal.
SHRI PRABODH PANDA (MIDNAPORE): Sir, heavy rainfall in recent times in different parts of our country caused serious damage to the standing crops of potatoes, vegetables, and so on. The paddy growers of West Bengal are facing serious crisis over huge crop losses. This year, before harvesting, the paddy in thousands and thousands of acres of paddy growing lands got destroyed by doshadisease. Heavy rainfall again added more losses.
I urge upon the Agriculture Ministry of the Union Government to extend necessary financial assistance to the State Government in this regard and come out with a proposal to waive off all the interest on the agricultural loans given to the affected paddy growers and to convert short-term loan into long-term loan at the earliest.