The Centre is working on a farm relief package for coffee growing, agriculture and horticulture districts in Karnataka. | |
| Speaking to reporters after unveiling the mascot of the India International Coffee Festival 2007, here on Thursday, Union minister of state for commerce Jairam Ramesh, said that a similar package is also being worked out for Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. |
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| According to him, in Karnataka, six districts which have been identified are coffee-growing districts of Hassan, Kodagu and Chikmagalur besides the districts where the highest number of suicides by farmers have been reported like Belgaum, Chitradurga and Shimoga. |
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| He added that six districts in Maharashtra and 16 in Andhra Pradesh have been identified. A package will be announced for all these states, which is expected to be on the lines of the recently announced to Vidharba region in Maharastra. |
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| The relief package which will be announced is expected to take care of long-term interest of the farming community in the states and mainly revolves around farm loan rescheduling, interest waiver, irrigation, development of livestock and agri-credit, he said. |
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| Without mentioning the package amount, he said, "Presently my ministry is working on the quantum of relief and modalities of its implementation. It is likely to be a few thousands of crore but most of it will be borne by the Centre." |
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| The package comes on the back of the pradesh Congress committee chiefs of Karnataka, AP and Maharashtra meeting the Prime Minister and Congress president Sonia Gandhi. |
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